### Australia Takes Command in Second Test Against West Indies with Smith's Stellar Performance Australia has established a strong position in the second Test against the West Indies, leading by 254 runs at the end of Day 3. Steve Smith's impressive innings of 71 runs, alongside Cameron Green's crucial half-century, has propelled Australia to a total of 221 for seven, despite facing challenges from the West Indies bowlers and interruptions due to rain. This match is part of a three-Test series, with Australia currently leading 1-0. ### Breakdown of Australia's Performance and Match Context 1. **Match Overview**: - Australia is 1-0 up in the three-Test series against the West Indies. - The second Test is being played in Grenada, where Australia has taken a commanding lead of 254 runs at stumps on Day 3. 2. **Key Players**: - **Steve Smith**: Scored a vital 71 runs, showcasing his batting prowess and stabilizing the innings after early wickets fell. - **Cameron Green**: Contributed significantly with his first half-century at No. 3, helping to recover the innings from a precarious 12-2 at the start of the day. 3. **Match Conditions**: - The day was marred by three rain interruptions, limiting play to 58.3 overs. - Despite these interruptions, Australia managed to build a substantial lead, although they lost regular wickets after tea. 4. **West Indies' Response**: - The West Indies bowlers, while facing a challenging situation, managed to take wickets at crucial moments, keeping the pressure on Australia. ### Supporting Evidence of Australia's Dominance - **Score Summary**: - At stumps on Day 3: Australia 221 for 7, leading by 254 runs. - Key contributions: - Steve Smith: 71 runs - Cameron Green: 50 runs - **Match Statistics**: - Australia recovered from 12-2 to 221-7, demonstrating resilience. - The match has seen a total of 58.3 overs played on Day 3 due to rain interruptions. ### Conclusion: Australia in a Strong Position to Win the Series In summary, **Australia's commanding lead of 254 runs, bolstered by significant contributions from Steve Smith and Cameron Green, places them in a favorable position to secure victory in the second Test against the West Indies**. The combination of solid batting performances and the ability to recover from early setbacks has been crucial. 1. **Current Status**: Australia leads by 254 runs at the end of Day 3. 2. **Key Performers**: Smith and Green have been instrumental in building the lead. 3. **Next Steps**: Australia will aim to capitalize on their lead and secure a series win in the upcoming days. For further details, you can refer to the following sources: [https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/steve-smiths-masterclass-puts-australia-in-control-vs-windies-second-test/20250706.htm], [https://www.afr.com/world/central-america/half-centuries-by-smith-and-green-put-australia-back-in-charge-in-grenada-20250706-p5mctu], [https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/cricket/385661/smith-guides-australia-to-commanding-lead-in].