Carey, Webster Century Stand Rescues Australia After Collapse in Second Test vs West Indies

Australia's Alex Carey celebrates with partner Beau Webster scoring a half-century against West Indies. (AP Photo)

Alex Carey and Beau Webster forged another century partnership, rescuing Australia from a precarious position to reach 286 all out on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies at the National Cricket Stadium in Grenada on Thursday.

The West Indies openers, Kraigg Brathwaite, playing his 100th Test, and John Campbell, avoided facing the Australian pace attack at the end of the day due to fading light.

Following their crucial partnership in the second innings in Barbados, Carey and Webster's sixth-wicket stand of 112 again thwarted the West Indian bowlers' hopes of quickly dismissing the tourists.

Carey's aggressive knock of 63, which came from 81 balls and included ten fours and one six, complemented Webster's patient 60 from 115 deliveries, featuring six boundaries and a six. Their partnership stabilized the innings after Australia stumbled to 110 for five after electing to bat.

Webster was run out attempting a risky second run, a rare error in his otherwise composed innings.

"It was pretty simple really: keeping the straight balls out and trying to score when it was a bit wider or too straight," Webster said after the day's play. "The wicket offered a little bit again so it was a really good effort to get the total we did."

Webster praised Carey's assertive approach against the West Indian attack. "This series he has been fantastic and it's been a pleasure to be up at the other end," he said. "We would have loved to get 300-plus and I'm a little bit to blame for not getting us there, but we have a really good bowling attack that bowls with lots of runs on the board and sometimes with not many to defend. We back them 100 percent on this sort of surface."

Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the West Indies bowlers, taking four wickets for 61 runs, while Jayden Seales claimed two for 45 in a pace-focused attack, with Anderson Phillip replacing spinner Jomel Warrican.

Joseph's improved performance included the key wickets of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith during the morning session, where Australia lost three wickets for just three runs. Phillip, returning after 18 months, dismissed Sam Konstas.

Smith, returning from a finger injury sustained at Lord's three weeks prior, was caught by Phillip off Joseph's bowling near the long-leg boundary. Cameron Green's dismissal for 26 by Seales, caught by Roston Chase at gully, preceded the vital Carey-Webster partnership.