11 Dec 2022

Australia and England on top in test matches

5:37 am on 11 December 2022

Australia set West Indies a monumental victory target of 497 and then reduced them to 38-4 on day three of the day-night second test in Adelaide to be on the verge of a 2-0 series sweep.

Adelaide Oval at night.

Adelaide Oval Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Having declared their first innings on 511-7 on Friday, Australia bundled out West Indies for 214 to claim a massive lead of 297.

The hosts then raced to 199-6 in 31 overs, effectively batting West Indies out of the contest, before declaring their second innings.

Scott Boland then struck three blows in his first over to rattle West Indies who are 459 runs behind staring at a huge defeat inside four days.

Both Devon Thomas and Jason Holder were batting on eight at stumps after a frenetic 85-over day when 349 runs were scored and 16 wickets tumbled at the Adelaide Oval.

Meanwhile Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed continued his fairytale debut but England stretched their overall lead to 281 to put themselves in a commanding position in the second test in Multan.

Having claimed handy first innings lead of 79 in the low-scoring contest, England cemented their position by finishing day two on 202-5 riding fifties by Ben Duckett and Harry Brook.

Abrar, who claimed seven wickets in the first innings, returned 3-81 in the second to prevent England from running away with the game.

Brook was batting on 74 when bad light stopped play with England captain Ben Stokes on 16 at the other end.

-Reuters