sport

Australia gain upper hand

Australia had the upper hand at the end of the second day of the third Test against West Indies.

A Matthew Wade century was followed by three wickets from Nathan Lyon as the hosts finished on 165 for eight in Dominica.

Earlier, Wade had made 106 and Shane Shillingford finished with six wickets as Australia were all out shortly before lunch.

Shillingford finished with six for 119 but the West Indies bowlers will be disappointed they allowed Australia to make a respectable total given they were 169 for seven when Wade came to the crease yesterday.

Australia resumed this morning on 212 for seven and had added just 14 when Mitchell Starc was run out. He failed to ground his bat when attempting a second run off Kemar Roach.

Starc's patient knock of 35 came off 55 deliveries and included one boundary as he shared a vital 57-run stand with Wade.

Narsingh Deonarine was lofted over long-on by Wade for six before he hit Shillingford for two consecutive maximums as he enjoyed success at deep mid-wicket.

Wade then reached his century off Roach, driving wide through cover to move to 103, his hundred coming off 143 deliveries and including 10 boundaries and three sixes.

However, Wade's joy was cut short moments later when, after adding three more, he was out for 106 off Shillingford.

Again Wade had slogged the ball but it failed to carry and reached Bravo who caught it, threw it up in the air before going outside the boundary, jumping back in and taking the catch.

His time at the crease saw him put together a vital stand of 102 with Ben Hilfenhaus who was out for 19 without further score.

Australia then made an ideal start to their attack when they removed Kraigg Braithwaite for a duck, Harris taking a fumbled catch at first slip.

After such an awful start for the hosts, a steady hand was called for and Barath and Kieran Powell both made cautious starts.

The pair had moved on to 62 when Barath was out, caught by Ed Cowan off the bowling of Nathan Lyon. His 29 came from 76 deliveries and included four boundaries.

Just 11 more runs had been added and West Indies lost another wicket when Bravo was out for 10 after getting a big inside edge on to the pads from David Warner's delivery and Cowan was given time to catch it.

After returning from tea at 75 for three there was a big blow for the hosts when they lost the wicket of Powell, making it 85 for four.

Lyon bowled Powell for 40, including two boundaries, and West Indies were really rocking when Deonarine was lbw to Harris with just 11 more on the board.

Carlton Baugh (five) became Lyon's third victim making it 103 for six and things went from bad to worse when Darren Sammy (10) and Shillingford (nought) were out on 120.

Ravi Rampaul made a speedy 24 not out with Shivnarine Chanderpaul a patient 34no from 110 deliveries as the hosts reached stumps on 165 for eight.