AP, Roseau :
Australia’s Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon took three wickets each to back up Steve Smith’s career-best 199 as the visitors took command of the second Test against the West Indies on day two at Sabina Park on Friday.
Pacer Jerome Taylor took a Test-best 6-47 for the West Indies as Australia, resuming on 258-4, were bowled out for 399 midway through the day.
But Taylor’s efforts were not supported by the batsmen as the hosts slumped to 143-8 in reply, still 256 runs in arrears and leaving the hosts staring at the possibility of a follow-on.
The 27-year-old Lyon took 3-35 to increase his career wickets tally to 144, passing Hugh Trumble (141) as the most prolific off-spinner in Aussie test history.
Fast bowler Hazlewood grabbed 3-15 from 11 probing overs.
For the home team, Jermaine Blackwood top-scored with an aggressive 51 which included seven fours and a six.
Earlier, Smith stretched his ninth test century to within one of a maiden double ton before the lion-hearted Taylor gained a clear lbw verdict with an inswinging yorker.
The 26-year-old Smith’s assured innings spanned 361 balls and 517 minutes and was laced with 21 fours and two sixes. He was the eighth batsman – and third Australian after Matthew Elliott and Steve Waugh – to be dismissed for 199.
Smith, resuming on his overnight 135, anchored the Aussies, with solid assistance from Shane Watson (25), Brad Haddin (22) and Hazlewood (24).
He stretched his fifth-wicket stand with Watson to 54 before Taylor angled one in to hit Watson’s off stump as the batsman played no stroke. Watson struck four fours off 73 balls.
Haddin, dropped at point by Jermaine Blackwood off Roach when 8, played aggressively before Taylor grabbed his fifth wicket, bowling the wicket-keeper with an inswinger at 296-6.
Mitchell Johnson (5) soon edged Roach to Darren Bravo at first slip and Australia slipped to 306-7.
But Smith was immovable at the other end, passing 150 with his 16th boundary and eking out useful contributions from the lower order either side of lunch.
He shared a ninth-wicket stand of 63 with Hazelwood to usher the Aussies to a challenging total.
Taylor finally produced a wicked inswinger to deny Smith, who was ruled lbw despite his use of the TV review.
Hazlewood, who hit two fours off 58 deliveries, eventually fell to a catch in the deep off left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.
The West Indies reply stuttered badly in an hour’s batting before tea, with Mitchell Starc making the initial breakthrough before Lyon made his mark.
Rajendra Chandrika, on debut, was dismissed for a duck, edging behind off a Starc delivery that was perilously close to being a no ball.
Then Lyon bowled Kraigg Brathwaite (4) as he played inside the line, and added a clear lbw verdict against Darren Bravo (14).
After tea, Hazlewood claimed Shane Dowrich (13) to the second of Haddin’s four catches and the hosts were rocking at 44-4.
Blackwood and Shai Hope (26) provided a mini-revival before Haddin, with a lucky grab between his legs, gathered Hope’s edge off Lyon.
Hazlewood removed captain Denesh Ramdin and Blackwood before the close and Australia completed a satisfying day when Mitchell Johnson found Veerasammy Permauls’ edge to the final ball of the day.
