Australia are 65-3 at the lunch break with Usman Khawaja and Travis Head unbeaten on 32 and 21 respectively.
West Indies made early inroads into Australia’s top order, bringing into question the visitors’ decision to bat first. Under the blue skies at Kensington Oval, fast bowler Shamar Joseph picked up where he left off at the Gabba, picking up two wickets and having another chance dropped.
Sam Konstas, in for the dropped Marnus Labuschagne, managed just three runs before he was trapped on the crease by Joseph. The 25-year-old Guyanese bowler found the edge of Cameron Green’s bat two balls later, but debutant Brandon King couldn’t cling onto the chance at gully.
The drop didn’t prove too costly as Green only managed to score three runs before he succumbed to a peach of a delivery from Joseph to find Justin Greaves at second slip.
Jayden Seales, who bowled equally as well from the Joel Garner End without reward up until that point, removed Josh Inglis (5), who was skied a pull shot into the grateful hands of wicket keeper Shai Hope, to truly put the visitors under the pump at 22-3.
Khawaja, who was dropped by captain Roston Chase at first slip on seven off the bowling of Joseph, has consolidated the innings with middle-order batsman Travis Head. The duo have offered a counter-punch to inject some momentum into the innings, and their current partnership is worth 43 runs. (JC)
