KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jayden Seales says it was a “good day” for the West Indies after they dismissed Australia for 225 and navigated nine overs while losing only one wicket, batting under lights in the day/night third Test at Sabina Park.

At the close of play on Saturday’s opening day of the first-ever pink-ball Test in Jamaica, the West Indies weathered an onslaught from the high-quality Australian pace bowling attack to reach 16-1.

When play resumes on Sunday afternoon, stand-in opener Brandon King, unbeaten on eight, and captain Roston Chase, on three, are expected to walk to the middle.

Debutant Kevlon Anderson, also promoted to open after both regular openers Mikyle Louis and John Campbell suffered injuries in the field on Saturday, was the batsman dismissed late in the day for three.

However, swing bowler Seales, who claimed 3-59, was pleased with the hosts’ position at the close after they were able to bowl out Australia for fewer than 250 runs for the third time in five innings this series.
“It was a good day for us — we got Australia out for under 250 again and we got through the night with [only] one wicket down,” the 23-year-old told reporters at the close.

Australia rode their luck earlier in the day with a number of deliveries sliding past the bat without hitting the edge.
Seales conceded the ball might have been doing too much at times.

“The ball did a lot more today than it did throughout the entire series. There was a lot of play and misses not enticing the edges as we did in previous matches, but as movement calmed down… it was easier to get wickets,” he said.

Australia lost seven wickets in the final session for the addition of only 68 runs, and were markedly ultra-aggressive deep into the innings as conditions got trickier batting under lights.

Pacer Shamar Joseph led the West Indies bowling with 4-33, while Steven Smith top-scored for Australia with 48.

“There was definitely more… movement when we came back out under the lights. The batsmen also played differently because they know what happens under the lights. We knew Australia wanted to bowl under the lights so they pushed to see how many runs they could get,” Seales noted.

Australia have a two-nil lead in the three-Test series.
—Sanjay Myers