Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja shared in a 142-run stand Wednesday to put Australia on track for a big total in the opening Test against the West Indies at Perth Stadium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The hosts reached 162-2 at tea following captain Pat Cummins' decision to bat in hot and dry conditions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After getting the early wicket of David Warner for five, the West Indies had to toil for hours in the heat to bag another, with a patient Khawaja compiling 65 off 149 balls before edging Kyle Mayers to wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Labuschagne was 81 not out and Steve Smith unbeaten on four at the break as the West Indies target a first Test win in Australia for 25 years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Labuschagne and Khawaja came together after Warner fell to young paceman Jayden Seales, and hardly put a foot wrong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They had to work hard for runs against economical bowling in the opening session of the first Test between the sides for nearly seven years, reaching 72-1 at lunch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But they accelerated the run rate after the break with Labuschagne bringing up his 14th half-century in his 29th Test with a three off Jason Holder.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
A faultless Khawaja, who has been a rock at the top of the order this year, soon followed, cracking spinner Roston Chase for four then a single to reach his 18th half-century in his 52nd Test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Khawaja had scored four Test centuries and reached the 90s twice in the last 12 months, with more glory beckoning.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But he was undone by a beautiful delivery from Mayers which trimmed the outside edge of his bat and was an easy take for Da Silva.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Wearing black armbands to mourn former West Indies wicketkeeper David Murray, who died last week, the visitors kept Warner and Khawaja in check in the opening overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Warner's first attacking shot saw Jayden Seales pulled for a boundary in the fourth over.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the left-hander's aggression cost him next ball as tried to drive a wider delivery only to drag it back on to his stumps and be out for five.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was a big wicket for the 21-year-old Trinidadian and his first in Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The West Indies suffered a blow before the match with allrounder Raymon Reifer ruled out of the two-Test series after picking up a groin injury.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
They handed a debut to batsman Tagenarine Chanderpaul, the son of retired great Shivnarine.<\/p>\r\n\r\n