Kraigg Brathwaite fights back in opener after milestone by Marnus Labuschagne

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Marnus Labuschagne hit an unbeaten 104 to add to his first innings of 204, becoming the third Australian with single and double centuries in a Test, as Australia gave the West Indies an improbable 498 runs to win the opening Test.

The West Indies reached stumps at 192-3 in their second innings in 62 overs on the fourth day on Saturday, needing a further 306 runs for what was to be a sensational win. Australia previously declared at lunchtime at 182-2 with Labuschagne and Steve Smith 20 not out after resuming the fourth day at 29-1. The home side scored 153 runs in the session in just 26 overs. The score of 81 runs between Labuschagne and Smith followed their third wicket score of 251 runs in the first innings, where Smith also scored an unbeaten 200.

The only other Australians to score a century and a double century in a test were Greg Chappell and Doug Walters against New Zealand and the West Indies respectively. The home side scored a formidable 598-4 in the first innings, repulsing the West Indies for 283.

West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite led the resistance in the second innings with a fighting 101, his 11th ton in 80 Tests, and set the platform with debutant opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (45) in an opening stand of 116 runs.

During the innings, Brathwaite became the 13th West Indies batsman to complete 5,000 Test runs. He faced 166 balls and hit 11 fours, and will resume on Sunday with Kyle Mayers, who has yet to score. Brathwaite endured an Australian attack minus skipper Pat Cummins with the visitors hoping to salvage a draw from a seemingly hopeless position.

Australia has 90 overs left, including the availability of the second new ball, on the final day to take seven wickets. The wicket has played the best but the odd ball has remained low with cracks opening and batting could become difficult on Sunday. Cummins was hurting his right side and did not take the field until after the fall of Chanderpaul’s wicket, which was 153 minutes into the innings. Cummins’ pain will be further assessed before he is cleared to bowl.

Cummins wrecked the West Indies first innings 3-34 as the tourists fell from 245-4 to 283 all out.
Chanderpaul was dropped by Mitchell Starc with long leg from a hook to the top of Cameron Green. West Indies was 109-1.

But in the next over, Starc made amends and bowled Chanderpaul to end the opening resistance. It was an impressive debut from Chanderpaul, the son of former batter Shivnarine Chanderpaul. He scored 51 in the first innings.
Shamarh Brooks, the concussion replacement for Nkrumah Bonner, scored 20 before offspinner Nathan Lyon had him caught in the slips by Steve Smith.

Jermaine Blackwood survived two appeals in the first three balls he faced. He survived an unsuccessful assessment by Australia for a behind, and two balls later Blackwood successfully assessed a lbw after being taken out by fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.

Blackwood eventually fell for 24 after keeping Brathwaite company for 82 minutes as the pair added 58 runs. He was brilliantly caught one-handed by Labuschagne at Lyon who are 2-54 in 22 overs. Earlier, Labuschagne’s almost run-a-ball knock helped Australia declare themselves at lunchtime after resuming the day at 29-1. The hosts went on a leather chase, hitting 153 runs in 26 overs to speed up the declaration.

Labuschagne, 28, became the first Australian in 48 years to score a double hundred and a century in a Test. He joined Walters (242 and 103 against the West Indies in Sydney in February 1969) and Chappell (247 not out and 133 against New Zealand in Wellington in March 1974).

Labuschagne, playing his 29th Test, is the ninth batsman overall in an elite group that includes Walters and Chappell, West Indians Laurence Rowe and Brian Lara, Indian Sunil Gavaskar, Englishman Graham Gooch and Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakkara.

Labuschagne survived a catch when he hit Alzarri Joseph’s no-ball through his helmet to Brooks at the gully. The righthander was in a punishing mood as he raced to his century during lunch. He had started the day with just three runs.
Labuschagne hit two sixes and 13 fours and had faced 110 balls.

Opener David Warner (48) shoved a catch through his trail to Brooks on the short leg as offspinner Roston Chase gave the tourist the first break of the day. The second test in a two-match series is a day-night test in Adelaide from December 8.

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