Boxing Day Test, Day 3, PHOTOS: Smith, Khawaja shine after WI mini-resistance

Captain Steven Smith and No 3 bat Usman Khawaja struck half centuries as Australia piled on the runs and misery on the West Indies on Day 3 of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.

Australia ended the day at 179 for 3, taking a massive lead of 459 runs.

- Scorecard

At close of play, Smith (70 batting) and Mitchell Marsh (18 batting) were batting at the crease after stitching up a 56-run partnership.

With two full days of cricket to go, Australia will have plenty of time to dismiss West Indies and take a 2-0 lead in the Test series.

Coming in to bat for their 2nd innings after the tea break, Australia began at a brisk pace, scoring 5.6 runs per over.

Opener Warner and Joe Burns played well but Windies captain Jason Holder sent Burns back to the pavilion having him caught by Carlos Brathwaite for 5.

Debutant Brathwaite took on the Aussies, nudging and exchanging words with opener David Warner.

Brathwaite’s positive demeanour helped him get the better of Warner eventually having him caught at gully for 17.

Khawaja put on another steady batting display against the unusually aggressive Windies bowling attack, cracking a solid 56 off 61 balls before becoming Holder’s second victim.

Brathwaite's celebrations bowled his captain over but Khawaja, one of four first innings centurions for Australia, teamed up with Smith to put down the minor insurrection before he was caught behind attempting an audacious ramp shot.

Earlier, West Indies were bowled out for 271 in their first innings after Australia pacer James Pattison ended Darren Bravo’s stubborn resistance at tea on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday.

The West Indies trail their hosts' mammoth first innings total by 280 runs -- Australia declared their first innings at 551-3 .

The tourists' tail frustrated Australia's bowlers for another session, adding 98 runs after they resumed on 173-7 after lunch.

Bravo, who had shared a 90-run stand with Carlos Brathwaite before the debutant was dismissed for 59 before lunch, anchored further valuable partnerships for the final three wickets before James Pattinson had him caught for 81 to wrap up the innings.

Spinner Jomel Warrican was left unbeaten on 11.

Pattinson, who dismissed Brathwaite twice only to reprieve him for over-stepping the crease on both occasions, finally broke through after lunch to remove Kemar Roach, trapping him lbw for 22.

Spinner Nathan Lyon had Jerome Taylor feather an edge to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill to be out for 15.

Bravo's defiant knock gave West Indies some cheer after they lost six wickets in the final session on day two.

Australia are bidding to wrap up the series 2-0 with victory in Melbourne after winning the opener in Hobart.