Live Cricket Score of Australia vs West Indies, 2nd Test, Day 4 at Melbourne

Good morning and welcome to day four of the Boxing Day Test! Australia bowled out West Indies last afternoon for 271 and didn't enforce the follow-on in order to give their bowlers some rest. The batsmen came out all guns blazing and scored at over five an over to take them to 179 for 3 by the time stumps were drawn, with a lead of 459.

WillWest Indies' batsmen take the field when play begins on day four, or will Steve Smith decide to pile on some more runs? If Smith does make the declaration, will they survive the Australian bowling attack - even so, enough to take the game into the fifth day?

We'll find out when the players walk out in about half an hour's time.

West Indies need 460 from a maximum of 180 overs.

Looks like Australia have made a declaration; West Indies now need 460 to win with a maximum of 180 overs. Good declaration, do you think?

Players take the field... here we go!

Following an extremely good start, Kraigg Brathwaite's sudden error in judgement has him pay the price. The batsman, who seemed calm and composed from the start was tackling the Australian attack with ease. He came out with a purpose this morning and was even succeeding, however, one over-ambitious cut shot off Nathan Lyon got the edge and flew to slip where Steve SMith pouched a sharp catch! The batsman has to depart for a 34-ball 31. Lyon strikes and gets things going for Australia.

West Indies are 35 for 1 - 31 of which were scored by Brathwaite - an indication of his approach in the innings.

What was initially assumed as boot problems is not speculated to be a foot problem that has resulted in Peter Siddle leaving the field. Mitchell Marsh is into the attack now.

Big appeal from the Australians off James Pattinson. On-field umpire adjudged it not out. Steve Smith wants a review but umpire denies it as they took a while to decide.

Josh Hazlewood strikes right on the brink of lunch, but off a no-ball! This is the third such instance in this match after Pattinson's two in the first innings.

After getting under the skin of the Australian bowlers, Darren Bravo nicks one to Peter Nevill, who takes a fantastic diving catch! Umpires check for the front foot and Hazlewood seems to have nothing behind the line. The Australians seem quite frustrated at the moment, and rightly so.

Well done to the West Indies to go come out on top in a grinding first session. Kraigg Brathwaite got them off to a good and brisk start. However, a bit of over ambition saw him perish to Nathan Lyon.

Chandrika and Bravo have worked hard in the middle since, but have not thrown their wickets away. They frustrated the Aussie quicks enough to get under their skin which was evident given Pattinson's contstant chatter with the batsmen. That, to such an extent that the umpire had to intervene and have a word with Steve Smith.

To top all of that, just when it looked like there could be a turn in fortune, there was, but for West Indies as Josh Hazlewood induced an edge off the bat of Darren Barvo on the brink of lunch, but of a no-ball!

A frustrating session for the Australians came to an end as West Indies went into lunch at 64 for 1. Bravo was unbeaten on 14, while Chandrika on 17.

Join us on the other side of the lunch break.

Peter Siddle had Bravo out caught behind, while James Pattinson got Chandrika out LBW. The ball looked a tad high live, but replays suggested the ball would have clipped the top of the stumps.

Nathan Lyon strikes straight after Tea and Australia are now five away from completing another series win. This one was a loopy delivery pitched on a good length and for some reason, Jermaine Blackwood decided that the best option would be to sweep it. The minute he missed the shot, he was a goner. Didn't bother wasting a review for that.

That by the way was Lyon's 52nd wicket in 2015 Tests. Only Ashwin and Broad have more!
That by the way was Lyon's 52nd wicket in 2015 Tests. Only Ashwin and Broad have more!

In comes Jason Holder. How West Indies would love a nice big, partnership to reaffirm our faith that Caribbean cricket isn't fading away, contrary to what popular opinion would have us believe.

Mitchell Marsh wraps up the Test and Australia pick up a series win against West Indies with a 177-run win. It was a great Test for the Australians who dominated right from the word go. West Indies will take solace in the fact that this performance has been their better ones in the series albeit being on the losing side. They finally showed some fight!

Declaring overnight, and setting West Indies a target of 460 - after scoring 551 in the first innings - Steve Smith and Co. would have been extremely frustrated with the proceedings after the first session that saw just one wicket fall. The bowlers then came back strongly to bowl the opposition out in the remaining two sessions.

Chandrika and Bravo added 48 runs for the second wicket, but both being dismissed in quick succession didn't help West Indies' cause at all. Marlon Samuels's poor form in the series continued and Blackwood failed as well. Then came a partnership that gave the visitors some glimmer of hope. Ramdin and Holder counter-attacked in style and got to their fifties giving West Indies their first 100-run stand of the series.

But it all was quashed as Mitchell Marsh was brought back and got both Ramdin and Holder, putting an end to West Indies's hope. Play was extended by an extra half an hour to give Australia the chance of picking up the final wicket and wrapping up the Test and they did so in just two minutes of the extra time to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Carlos Brathwaite was a discovery for West Indies; his performance in the Test on debut will hold him in good stead for time to come. For Australia, Peter Siddle might have picked up an injury. Confirmation on the same should be in soon.

While there were as many as four centurions for Australia in the Test, Nathan Lyon was named Man of the Match for his seven wickets.

The next Test begins on January 3, 2016 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Do join us then.

Until then, thank you for joining us and goodbye. Wishing you all a very happy new year!