WEST Indies pace bowlers held the upper hand against Australia in seamer-friendly conditions for most of the opening day of the historic day/night Test at Sabina Park.

Early in the final session on Saturday Australia were 165-5 after winning the toss and electing to bat first on a grass-covered pitch on a sunny afternoon in Kingston.

At press time, Travis Head was unbeaten on 13 while fellow left-hander Alex Carey was on four.

West Indies pace bowler Shamar Joseph had figures of 3-28, including the wicket of batting great Steve Smith (48).

Outstanding swing bowler Jayden Seales and all-rounder Justin Greaves had taken one wicket each.

Earlier, Australian openers Usman Khawaja and Sam Konstas stubbornly weathered testing spells from the West Indies front-line pacers on a surface that offered significant sideways movement.

But it was medium pacer Greaves who got the breakthrough when he trapped the 19-year-old Konstas (17) leg before wicket with the score on 28.

It was the only wicket to fall in the first session as Australia entered the tea break at 50-1.

Usman Khawaja of Australia avoids a bouncer from Shamar Joseph of West Indies during the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

The 38-year-old Khawaja battled to a 92-ball 23 and added 40 runs with Cameron Green for the second wicket, before the left-handed opener edged a delivery from Shamar Joseph through to wicketkeeper Shai Hope.

Green batted with admirable poise before he was outdone by an outstanding delivery from Jayden Seales that seamed away from the bat after being delivered from wide of the crease to cannon into the stumps.

At that point Australia were 129-3 and they managed to add another nine runs without further loss to get to the dinner interval.

However, after the break Steve Smith flashed a drive at a Shamar Joseph delivery for Brandon King at first slip to hold onto a sharp catch.

Shamar Joseph got his third when middle-order batsman Beau Webster, who was assured with the bat in the first two Tests, feathered a catch through to Hope.

Australia lead the three-Test series 2-0 after winning the matches in Barbados and Grenada.

Shamar Joseph of West Indies celebrates the dismissal of Australia batsman Beau Webster during the day/night third Test at Sabina Park. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

Justin Greaves (second right) celebrates with teammates after dismissing Australia’s Alex Carey during the day/night third Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica on Saturday.

Justin Greaves (left) of West Indies celebrates with teammates after dismissing Australian batsman Sam Konstas lbw during the day/night third Test at Sabina Park.