West Indies delivered a better all-round batting display but were overpowered by Australia inside four days to suffer a 177-run defeat in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground here yesterday.
Captain Jason Holder and Denesh Ramdin scored powerful half-centuries to lead a gutsy fightback but the Aussies prevailed to secure the series two-nil and retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.
All seven front line batsmen got starts as Windies showed determination before they were bowled out for 282 in their second innings after Steven Smith’s overnight declaration on 179 for three.
West Indies slumped to 83 for two after Darren Bravo, who had an early reprieve when Josh Hazlewood dismissed him with a no ball, was caught a few overs later for 21.
West Indies fought hard but eventually lost their final four wickets for 32 runs in 10 overs.
Marsh ended the West Indies encouraging run when he broke the partnership by removing Ramdin, who took an edge attempting to drive through mid-off, while Holder scooped a ball from Hazlewood straight to mid-off.
Marsh and Pattinson then cleaned up the Windies tail with three quick wickets as the home side maintained possession of the Frank Worrell Trophy for 20 unbroken years, stretching back to 1995 in the Caribbean.
