WI vs AUS, 2nd Test: Jayden Seals balances scales after Australia dominate Day 2

India Today

7 hours ago

Young West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales balanced the scales late on Day 2 of the 2nd Test match against Australia. Seales removed both Australian openers inside the first 6 overs of the second innings, helping the hosts bring back some sense of balance on a day that was dominated by the bowlers.The Pat Cummins-led Australian team bowled the Windies out for just 253 runs, 33 runs short of their first innings total of 286 runs. The West Indies innings lasted nearly a day on the spicy pitch of Grenada, which had ample help for the fast bowlers bowling with the new ball.advertisementKraigg Brathwaite was out for a duck in his first bat in his 100th Test, caught and bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the first over. Keacy Carty went the same way on 6 to Pat Cummins, and John Campbell wasted a good start of 40 when he skewed Beau Webster to mid-on.
It took Brandon King's maiden Test half-century and the tailenders' 73 invaluable runs for the West Indies to get close to Australia's 286.The West Indies were 174-7 after Lunch, still more than 100 behind, but the batters from 8 to 11 — notably Alzarri and Shamar Joseph — frustrated the Australians for 25 overs.King and captain Roston Chase, who took 18 balls to get off the mark, rebuilt West Indies from 64-3 to a confident 110-3 by Lunch. Chase was out straight after Lunch, trapped on 16 by Hazlewood after Australia reviewed.But King lofted Hazlewood for six over square leg, then his seventh boundary brought up his 50 off 77 balls, his first 50 in his second Test and West Indies' first 50 in the series. The batter waltzed down the track to hit Lyon for another couple of sixes as his partnership with Shai Hope began to flourish.But Cummins ended their 58-run stand when he bowled Hope on 21, and King fell in the next over nicking Lyon behind. King laboured for 75 off 108 balls with eight boundaries and three sixes.A third wicket in four overs, Justin Greaves, tumbled West Indies to 174-7.But the Josephs made it to Tea and kept going for 51 runs together. Alzarri scored 27 and Shamar 29. Last pair Anderson Phillip and Seales resisted for another nearly 11 overs for 16 runs.All six Australia bowlers took wickets; Lyon led with 3-75.Seales Rips Into Australia OpenersThe Australian top order has been a matter of discussion since their home Test series against India. Young seamer Jayden Seales ripped out the opening batters to reduce Australia's second innings to 12-2 and lead over West Indies to 45 runs on Day 2 of the second Test on Friday.advertisementThe hosts made it as hostile as possible and preyed on Australia's nervous top order.An absolute plumb ball goes up for review! OUT!!#WIvAUS #FullAhEnergy pic.twitter.com/ip1wRDqvPl— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) July 4, 2025Seales bowled Sam Konstas for a duck in the first over and almost claimed Cameron Green on the next ball. Green barely fended off Seales and was fortunate the ball dropped in front of second slip. Seales then got a nip-backer to trap Usman Khawaja plumb on 2. Khawaja's video review showed it was going to hit middle stump.Nathan Lyon came in as the nightwatchman and he and Green just made it to Stumps.- Ends