Holder saves Windies from follow-on, Aussies build lead

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Jason Holder blazed an unbeaten 82 to save the West Indies from the follow-on, but Australia were still in command at 22-0 for an overall lead of 201 at lunch on the third day of the second and final Test on Saturday.

With the home side starting the morning in deep trouble at 143 for eight, in reply to the tourists´ first innings total of 399, Holder stole the spotlight with a brilliant, counter-attacking innings that lifted them to a final score of 220.

He belted 12 fours and two sixes at Sabina Park, the second taking him to his second Test half-century, off just 63 deliveries and seemed well on course for a second hundred at the highest level of the game.

However Josh Hazlewood wrapped up the innings after an hour´s play with the wickets of Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor off consecutive deliveries to finish with his best Test innings figures of five for 38 off 15.5 overs.

Roach, who partnered Holder to the middle at the start of play after Veerasammy Permaul was dismissed off the last ball of the second day, played sensibly in a 77-run ninth-wicket partnership with his fellow Barbadian.

He contributed just seven runs but his defiance for 55 minutes, during which he faced 36 deliveries, allowed his fluent partner to enhance his already growing reputation as a batting all-rounder.

Seven weeks after a maiden Test hundred, a defiant unbeaten 103, saved the West Indies from defeat in the first Test against England in Antigua, Holder showed the more attacking side to his batting repertoire.

Most of his boundaries came from fluent drives and extravagant slashes through the off-side.

Another hundred looked his for the taking until Hazlewood was summoned by Australian captain Michael Clarke for a second spell.

The bowler responded immediately by drawing Roach into edging a drive to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin and then immediately trapping Taylor lbw when the last man offered no shot to his first delivery.

Both Taylor and Roach produced a handful of challenging deliveries to Australia´s opening pair of David Warner and Shaun Marsh at the start of the second innings.

But they survived the examination and were poised, with the rest of a formidable batting line-up to follow, to build on an already impressive lead heading into the afternoon. (AFP)