Australia beat West Indies to win series

Smith and Mitchell Marsh then guided Australia to the close with the skipper unbeaten on 70 from as many balls.

The visiting batsmen nearly completed their first wicket-less session of the series.

The Australians, who won the first Test in Hobart by an innings and 212 runs, dismissed the visitors for 282 in the final overs of the fourth day after declaring their second innings on their overnight 179 for three with a 459-run lead.

Australia are now 2-0 up in the series and assured of winning the Frank Worrell Trophy with just one Test remaining, which starts on 2 January at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Pattinson finished the Windies when he took Bravo’s well defended wicket, as West Indies’ top-scorer sliced the ball to Australian captain Steven Smith.

True to his name, Holder held out a little longer and late in the afternoon with three wickets up their sleeves it looked like the West Indies just might take the Test into what would’ve been an unexpected fifth day. It was enough to force Australia to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on, as the bowlers needed rest.

Kraigg Brathwaite and Rajendra Chandrika offered initial resistance on what was still a decent batting surface, with the former making 31 off 34 balls before becoming the first to go, caught by Smith in the slips off Nathan Lyon. Only David Warner missed out with 23.

Brathwaite’s exuberant celebration bowled his captain over but Khawaja, one of four first innings centurions for Australia, teamed up with Smith to put down the minor insurrection before he was caught behind attempting an audacious ramp shot. But despite their dire position the Windies showed more resolve against the odds on the third day.

It was not until Ramdin and Holder were at the crease together that the West Indies were really able to manufacture a stable partnership.

“I tried to show some aggression”, Brathwaite said.

“I know I desperately want to represent the West Indies”.

“It cost us a bit of time today and a few runs”, a red-faced Pattinson told reporters after finishing with four wickets along with spinner Nathan Lyon.

Voges was also amongst the runs and at lunch had totalled 996 runs for the calendar year and was averaging an astonishing 510 in four Tests against the West Indies this year alone. Roach – twice dropped at short leg by Joe Burns – added 22 before being trapped lbw by Pattinson, and Taylor contributed 15 before becoming Lyon’s fourth victim when he loosely edged behind to Peter Nevill.

While Holder was expressive, Ramdin played carefully but punished loose balls as he hit eight boundaries.

Australia’s no-ball wicket curse had earlier continued when Bravo survived on 12 after he was given out caught behind only to be saved by a front-foot no-ball by Hazlewood.