Twitter Reactions: Khawaja, Carey, Cummins fight back to near Windies’ total on Day 2

Pat Cummins – Australia vs West Indies Day 2 Brisbane. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

The Day Two of the second Test between Australia and West Indies saw some riveting cricketing action, and brilliance from the Australia in their first innings. While the Windies were on the cloud nine, having claimed half the opposition’s batters with the scoreboard reading just 54 in the 12th over, the Aussies unleashed their ‘Never Say Die’ attitude to mark an unexpected comeback in the game.

After Mitchell Marsh (21 off 20 balls) fell prey to Alzarri Joseph’s length ball, it was a determined Usman Khawaja who took the onus upon himself to ensure that he remained firm at the one end. However, his partner for the sixth wicket — Alex Carey, stepped in with an intention to up the score with a trailblazing whang at the Windies bowlers. In his 49-ball stay at the crease, Carey garnered 65 runs, while Khawaja enjoyed watching his partner smash it all around the Gabba.

Post the stumper-batter’s dismissal, Mitchell Starc (2 off 8) too was sent back cheaply by Joseph. Then came in the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins, who ably partnered Khawaja to add 81 runs together. Shortly after Kevin Sinclair got the better of the southpaw for 75 (131), Cummins swung his blade to quickly lend a 47-run partnership alongside Nathan Lyon (19 off 19). By the fall of the ninth wicket, Cummins, 64* off 73, declared the innings, while his side was still behind by 22 runs.

About forty minutes remaining before Stumps, Cummins & Co. challenged the Kraigg Brathwaite-led side to play with the swinging pink ball under Brisbane lights. The plan was successful, as ace pacer Josh Hazlewood, who couldn’t bat, struck in the eighth over by sending back Tagenarine Chanderpaul (4 off 26), as umpires called enough play on the day. Tomorrow, Windies will resume their innings with a 35-run lead to their name, and Brathwaite will be joined by Kirk McKenzie for a fresh start on Day 3.

Meanwhile, netizens kept X alive while giving their take on the enthralling day’s play put up on display at the Gabba for the Pink Ball Test.

Here’s how X reacted: