Australia build carefully as Grenada Test remains tight
Having again lost both openers to a late new-ball onslaught the previous evening, the visitors began Saturday's proceedings at 2-12 and holding a slim 45-run lead in what is shaping to be a tantalisingly tight Test in Grenada.
But after two frustrating rain delays and losing nightwatchman Nathan Lyon for eight, Cameron Green (31 no) and Steve Smith (20 no) have held firm against the fiery Windies pace attack to stretch Australia's lead to 102 at lunch.
Any momentum Australia had earned from bowling the Windies out for 253 and taking a 33-run first-innings lead quickly hit a brick wall on Friday evening when the fledgling opening partnership of Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja again faltered.
Teenager Konstas, in just his fourth Test, made a duck to bring his tally in four innings in the Caribbean to 33 while Jayden Seales also dismissed Usman Khawaja (2).
With the pressure mounting on resumption on Saturday, spin-king Lyon did well early on to support Green, eating up valuable overs as the pair sought to blunt the new ball.
Lyon had batted an hour and 47 minutes, using up 33 balls, before departing to a catch from John Campbell at third slip off Alzarri Joseph.
His resistance made it easier for Green to settle and the West Australian looked determined to take on the responsibility of holding the innings.
With returning talisman Smith, who had made three in the first innings just 20 days after suffering a nasty finger dislocation, he added 41 before lunch.
Smith was 20 from 32 balls and was beginning to assert himself, although he did survive an dicey lbw appeal on the last ball before the break.
Pat Cummins' Australia side are looking to claim a series-clinching victory at the National Stadium in St George's, Greneda, a venue in which they've never before played a Test.
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an hour ago
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