Aus v WI 3rd Test Review: Warner lightens up the final day of the rain affect Test

Play was finally possible on the fifth day of the 3rd Test after three days in the middle were washed out by rains. Australia ended the final day with 176/2 after bowling out West Indies in the morning session for 330 runs. Steven Smith lifted the Frank-Worrell Trophy. West Indies were still batting after first four days and were at 246/7 with Denesh Ramdin and Kemar Roach unbeaten. The second day was partially ruined by rain while the third and fourth day was completely washed out. However, the weather appeared positive on the fifth day but rains still had a firmer grip over the Test than the Australians as it was still showering lightly.

The play commenced soon and Hazlewood was ready to start the proceedings. Ramdin and Roach looked comfortable and added runs at a healthy rate on the scoreboard. Ramdin collected back to back fifties with a single off Lyon in the 97^th overs of the innings. However, his joy ride was soon over after some overs as he edged left-arm Spinner Steven O’Keefe straight to Smith at slips who completed the dismissal with a sharp catch. Lyon added another wicket his tally in the following over. Roach offered a simple bat-pad catch to Burns at short leg.

Lyon and O’Keefe kept flirting with Warrican and Taylor. The ease at which Lyon was bowling can be determined by the way he hurled some leg breaks in between to Warrican. O’Keefe finally put an end to the wagging tail after he dismissed Taylor caught by Lyon. The last wicket pair added 30 runs to the West Indies total which read 330 in the end, their highest total of the series.

David Warner and Joe Burns came out to bat after lunch. And, as expected, Warner started off with two consecutive boundaries off the first two deliveries of the fresh innings. The opening pair contributed a century stand between them which came in just 16 overs. West Indies finally found some respite in the form of the wicket of Joe Burns (26 from 41 balls) who was dismissed by the left-arm spin of Warrican. Warner lit up the rain-dulled SCG as he reached his 16th Test century in just 82 balls, the fastest at this ground, Mitchell Marsh (21 from 63 balls) then batted with Warner for another 15 odd overs before losing his wicket to Warrican.

The last half hour of the play was quite calm as Warner and Nevill exchanged the strike with singles and doubles. Finally, after the end of the 38th over, Smith called both the batsmen and the Test was declared as drawn.

Brief Scores:

West Indies: 330 all out (Brathwaite 85; Steven O’Keefe 3/63)

Australia: 176/2 decl. (Warner 122; Warrican 2/62)