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Sport
Scott Bailey

West Indies survive first of five sessions

Tagenarine Chanderpaul was 35no at tea as West Indies survived the first of five Test sessions. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

West Indies have chalked off the first of five sessions required to save the Test series opener against Australia, going to tea on day four at 0-84 in pursuit of an unlikely 498.

After an unbeaten Marnus Labuschagne century allowed Australia to declare their second innings at 2-182 at lunch, Kraigg Brathwaite (40) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (35) got to tea unscathed.

With Pat Cummins off the field nursing a quad complaint, Mitchell Starc beat the edge multiple times but Australia were unable to get a breakthrough.

Australia even turned to Marnus Labuschagne bowling medium-pacers, highlighting the absence of Cummins.

West Indies need to put on the greatest-ever final-innings chase to go 1-0 up in the two-Test Frank Worrell Trophy series, with the record currently standing at 418.

But realistically, the tourists' main objective is to hold on for around 150 overs to secure a draw, denying Australia the chance to retain the trophy after just one match.

They have still done so with some measured flair, with Chanderpaul pulling Josh Hazlewood for a fantastic boundary and driving Nathan Lyon against the spin for four just before tea.

Earlier, the only disappointed Australian of the morning session was David Warner.

Looking in good touch as Australia asserted their authority, Warner was caught at bat pad off Roston Chase midway through the session on 48.

Without a Test century since January 2020, 36-year-old Warner has outlined his plans to continue playing red-ball cricket until next year's Ashes.

But he admitted earlier this week he needed runs to keep the pressure off, after averaging 28.45 in Tests across the past two years.

The left-hander hit five boundaries in his 48 as he cut and cover-drove powerfully, before inside-edging offspinner Chase to short leg.

David Warner was out for 48 as Australia set West Indies 498 in five sessions in the first Test. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

At the other end, Labuschagne became only the eighth player in Test history to score a double century and another ton in the same match.

Streaky again at times, Labuschagne was at the centre of the most dramatic over of the morning after top-edging Alzarri Joseph for six.

Caught at slip after again edging a pull shot onto his helmet next ball, the Queenslander was recalled when the third umpire ruled Joseph had overstepped.

Labuschagne was then the subject of a concussion check, before being cleared to continue batting against a West Indies attack that lost Kemar Roach (thigh) and Kyle Mayers (shoulder) to injury.

He brought up his 50 in glorious fashion, with two straight drives off Jayden Seales, before going on to hit Chase back over his head for six.

As the West Indies slowed the game to a snail's pace, the right-hander accelerated to go from 50 to 104no in 40 balls before the declaration.

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