Australia lost both opening batters cheaply just before stumps on day two, as the West Indies dominated a crucial evening session in the second Test in Grenada.
With only a narrow 33-run advantage after the first innings, Sam Konstas was bowled in the first over for his first Test duck. Usman Khawaja soon followed, trapped LBW in the same fashion as his first-innings dismissal.
Khawaja burned a review before heading back to the pavilion, and Nathan Lyon came in as nightwatchman. After taking a blow to the arm and receiving extended treatment, Lyon managed to reach stumps alongside Cameron Green. Australia finished the day at 2-12, holding a 45-run lead.
Earlier, it took just 11 deliveries for Australia to claim its first wicket when Josh Hazlewood took a sharp return catch to remove Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in his 100th Test. Pat Cummins added to the momentum with a spectacular diving catch off his own bowling to dismiss Keacy Carty for 6. John Campbell, after reaching 40, gave his wicket away by miscuing a Beau Webster delivery straight to mid-on.
Roston Chase and Brandon King steadied the innings before lunch, but Chase was out for 16 to Hazlewood thanks to a successful DRS call immediately after the break. King then partnered with Shai Hope to add 58 runs, until Cummins bowled Hope for 21. Four balls later, King, who had made 75, was caught behind by Alex Carey off a Nathan Lyon delivery, confirmed via another expert review.
Justin Greaves was dismissed for just 1, caught behind again by Carey off Lyon, triggering a mini-collapse of 3 wickets for 5 runs. However, Alzarri Joseph (27) and Shamar Joseph (29) counterattacked effectively, hitting multiple sixes to push the total from 7-174 to within striking distance of Australia’s score.
The innings ended in controversy when third umpire Nitin Menon ruled that Anderson Phillip (10) had been cleanly caught by Travis Head, despite replays suggesting the ball may have touched the ground as it was gathered.
