With Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne leading the way for Australia, the West Indies are having a tough time

After Travis Head crunched 175 and Marnus Labuschagne became the second-fastest man to 3,000 Test runs behind Donald Bradman, Australia took four wickets to leave the West Indies reeling in the day-night second Test on Friday. This came after Labuschagne became the second-fastest man to 3,000 Test runs.

After two days of play in Adelaide, the visitors finished day two with a score of 102-4, still trailing by 409 runs after Australia proclaimed their first innings complete at 511-7. Both opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul and nightwatchman Anderson Phillip stayed confident while batting on their respective numbers (47 and 1).

The declaration made by the captain, Steve Smith, provided his bowlers with slightly more than a whole session to inflict maximum damage with the pink ball under lights, which is typically the most dangerous period to bat in day-night tests.

They were able to seize the opportunity, which is helping the home team move closer to a clean sweep of the two-match series after their victory in Perth by 164 runs.

The injured Josh Hazlewood was replaced on the team by Michael Neser, who took the crucial wicket of Perth century-maker Kraigg Brathwaite for 19. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey took a regulation catch after the West Indies skipper received a feather-edge while he was defending himself.

Neser discovered movement and dismissed Shamarh Brooks for a score of eight in a mirror dismissal.

The veteran spinner then held a caught-and-bowled to send Jermaine Blackwood packing for three, giving him the most successful bowler ever at Adelaide Oval with 57 wickets, beating Shane Warne’s previous record of 56 wickets.

Cameron Green’s wicket of Devon Thomas for 19 was the highlight of a successful day for the home team.

Head had a brilliant career-high score of 175 earlier, but he was unable to reach his first ever 200 because of a mental fade while batting with Green.

Green sent Head back after nudging to fine leg and making a push for two before sending Head back. He made a desperate attempt to get inside the scoring area, but he was denied.

It was a waste, and it became even more of a waste when Green was sent to the nine immediately after.

Alex Carey, who was not out (41), and Neser, who was not out (18), helped to cement the score thirty minutes before tea.

Before the West Indies made their first breakthrough of the day, wicketkeeper Joshua da Silva held a catch off of Thomas’ bowling to dismiss Labuschagne for 163. This score was added to Labuschagne’s previous scores of 204 and 104 not out in the first Test.

It broke a stand between Travis Head and Labuschagne that had lasted 297 runs and brought an end to another impressive performance from the left-hander.

As a result of this, he became the second player in the history of the Test Match format to reach the 3,000 run mark in his 51st innings, tying the legendary West Indian Everton Weekes for the position.

However, they were still quite a little slower than the legendary Australian player Bradman, who completed the feat in in 33 innings.

After establishing their superiority on Thursday, Australia started the day on 330-3.

Labuschagne began his innings on 120 and Head began on 114, as the West Indies were once again challenged by a flat pitch that offered little assistance.

Alzarri Joseph was able to get some early bounce, but the Australians were mainly untroubled throughout the match. Head was particularly excellent, pounced on anything short or wide, and extracted some early bounce.

The absence of West Indies all-rounder Kyle Mayers and pacemen Kemar Roach and Jayden Seales due to injury led to a reduction in the team’s bowling stocks.

Their difficulties were compounded when replacement Marquino Mindley was unable to bowl for a second time after limping off the field after only two overs on his debut on Thursday.

Labuschagne was not far behind Travis Head until he was dismissed just before dinner, but Head was the first to reach 150 with a boundary off spinner Roston Chase. When they returned in the third over, head had already been out for a while.