JEROME Taylor took career best figures of 6-47 to lead the West Indies fightback at Sabina Park yesterday. But Steven Smith’s highest Test score of 199 and disciplined bowling from his teammates, combined with sloppy stroke play from the hosts, left Australia eyeing victory and a 2-0 sweep of the series.

At the close of day two, West Indies were teetering on 143-8 in response to Australia’s 399 all out.

Scores: Australia 399 (126.5 overs); West Indies 143-8 (47 overs).

Smith, who fell agonisingly short of his maiden double hundred in Test or first-class cricket, said he is pleased with Australia’s commanding position.

“You get so close, you want to get over the line and get 200… it wasn’t to be today, but we are in a great position,” he said in the television interview at close of play.

West Indies batsman Jermaine Blackwood, who resisted the Australian onslaught with a daring 51 before being dismissed tamely late in the day, was optimistic that the regional side can still make a fight of it.

“I’m a bit disappointed with the way I got out, but I have to learn from it and learn from my mistakes, and in the second innings I can put on a better show,” the 23-year-old said, while adding that he hopes the remaining batsmen can push the total as close as possible to Australia’s first-innings score.

West Indies took the second new ball at the start of play with Australia on 258-4.

Taylor, 30, struck in his second over, bowling Shane Watson when the batsman left alone a delivery that held an off-stump line and pegged back off stump. Watson had been set up by a series of out-swingers from the crafty bowler.

The aggressive Haddin was dropped on eight by point fielder Blackwood off pacer Kemar Roach, but the wicketkeeper/batsman did not last long.

When Haddin was on 22, Taylor, who was also superb on day one taking three wickets, bowled the batsman through the gate as he attempted an expansive drive down the ground.

Roach, who showed marginal improvement yesterday after being shambolic on day one, finally got in on the act when he had Mitchell Johnson (five) edging for Darren Bravo to take the catch at slip.

Mitchell Starc played inside the line of a delivery from Jason Holder and was bowled for six with the score on 330-8.

At the other end, the in-form Smith, 26, continued where he left off from the opening day, mixing attack with solid defence on a tricky surface.

To compound matters, West Indies continued to make opportunities slip by.

Josh Hazlewood, on naught, was beaten in flight by the otherwise unimpressive left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul, but captain and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin missed the stumping chance.

Not long after, Hazlewood prodded at a delivery from Roach and edged into the hands of Shai Hope at second slip, but the bowler was called for a no-ball.

Roach was also guilty of overstepping on Thursday when he should have had Michael Clarke bowled and caught.

Switching to the northern Courtney Walsh End after bowling his first five spells from the Michael Holding End, the spritely Taylor trapped Smith leg before with a wonderful in-swinging yorker that cannoned into the batsman’s back foot in front of leg stump. Though Smith missed out on the double hundred, it was his fifth three-figure score in his last six Tests.

It was the third time Taylor was taking five wickets or more at Sabina Park. He has captured 29 wickets at the venue at a fantastic average of 12.76.

Soon after, Permaul had Hazlewood caught in the deep by Blackwood to wrap up the Australian innings.

It was always going to be difficult for the inexperienced West Indies line-up against a very good Australian attack on a surface which batsmen struggled for timing.

They were soon reduced to 35-3 at the tea interval as debutante Rajendra Chandrika (naught), his opening partner Kraigg Brathwaite (four) and Darren Bravo (14) were sent back to the pavilion.

Chandrika edged to wicketkeeper Haddin to one that was slanted across him from Starc, while both Brathwaite and Bravo played down the wrong line to off-spinner Lyon.

Dowrich was resolute during his half-century in the first Test last week, but yesterday he aimed wildly at a wide delivery from Hazlewood and could only feather a catch behind the stumps for 13.

Hope, who was dropped by first-slip fielder Watson off Starc, went for 26 when he edged one from Nathan Lyon to Haddin. The wicketkeeper took the chance in unorthodox fashion after the ball fortuitously lodged between his legs.

Blackwood, Ramdin (eight) and Permaul (zero) followed before the close as Australia tightened their grip, meaning only a miracle, or days of rain can rule out a West Indies loss.