THE WEST Indies have moved to a commanding position in their three-day tour match against the Cricket Australia XI, leading by 214 runs at stumps on day two. Having declared overnight on 8-251 in Adelaide, the tourists skittled their hosts for 174 before adding 3-137 by the close of play.

The CA XI started solidly in reply to the declaration, posting stands of just under 50 runs for each of the first two wickets. Things quickly changed with a dire collapse of 6-22 in the space of seven overs, leaving opener Tim Ward‘s 88-ball half-century as the sole saving grace of the innings.

There was a slight wag of the tail as the likes of Bradley Hope (24), Doug Warren (12*) and Liam Haskett (10 off 47) dug in down the order, but they could do little to bridge the remaining gap of 77 runs. It gave the Windies 35 overs to add to their lead, doing so at a tick under four runs an over.

Things didn’t start so sweetly as Tagenarine Chanderpaul was sent packing just three balls into the innings. Haskett made it a double breakthrough when he removed Kirk McKenzie (nine) in the fifth over, with the Windies not looking entirely comfortable at 2-16.

Alick Athanaze was the third to go, but his dismissal brought Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge together. The pair put on an unbeaten stand of 78 to close out the day’s play, finishing on 55 and 44 respectively. It comes as Da Silva was promoted to opener, and follows Hodge’s first innings 50.

Liam Scott joined Haskett as the CA XI’s only other wicket taker, posting figures of 1-10 (6). Doug Warren bowled the most overs (eight) and proved economical despite going wicketless at 0-18. There remains a decent chance of a result tomorrow, pending how much longer the Windies opt to bat.

SCORECARD

STUMPS, DAY TWO

TOSS: West Indies won the toss and elected to bat.

1ST INNINGS: West Indies 8d-251 (90)
Justin Greaves 65 (135), Kraigg Brathwaite 52 (129), Kavem Hodge 52 (101)
Liam Haskett 3-57 (18), Doug Warren 2-47 (20), Jack Nisbet 2-50 (18)

2ND INNINGS: Cricket Australia XI 10-174 (54.5)
Tim Ward 50 (88), Bradley Hope 24 (33), Jayden Goodwin 18 (39)
Kemar Roach 2-23 (9), Shamar Joseph 2-28 (8), Alzarri Joseph 2-40 (10)

West Indies led by 77 runs.

3RD INNINGS: West Indies 3-137 (35)
Joshua Da Silva 55* (95), Kaven Hodge 44* (67), Alick Athanaze 15 (30)
Liam Haskett 2-39 (7), Liam Scott 1-10 (6), Doug Warren 0-18 (8)

West Indies lead by 214 runs.

SQUADS

CA XI: Tim Ward, Jayden Goodwin, Teague Wyllie, Peter Handscomb (c), Jack Clayton, Jake Doran, Liam Scott, Bradley Hope, Doug Warren, Liam Haskett, Harry Conway, Jack Nisbet, Campbell Thompson, Harry Matthias (wk)

WI: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Alzarri Joseph, Akeem Jordan, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Zachary McCaskie