A back-flipping, fresh-faced West Indies believe they can end a 27-year winning drought in Australia after going blow-for-blow with the hosts in a rollicking Gabba pink-ball Test.
The visitors lost opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (four) in the final over on Friday to finish on 1-13, but they boast a lead of 35 with nine wickets in hand ahead of day three in Brisbane.
It could have been an even stronger platform if not for a dose of luck for Alex Carey (65 off 49), who scored 57 more after a delivery nicked his off bail but didn't dislodge it.
Australia were 5-54 but recovered to declare at 9-289, 22 shy of the West Indies' commendable 311 from a similarly fraught position.
Fifteen losses and five winless Test tours of Australia have come since a Brian Lara century and Curtly Ambrose's seven wickets led to a 10-wicket victory in Perth's fifth Test in February 1997.
Mark Taylor's men won that series 3-2 against a side also featuring Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Courtney Walsh, Carl Hooper, Ian Bishop and Jimmy Adams.
This side is without a host of their more seasoned campaigners and features two second-gamers, a debutant and Chanderpaul's son.
But, after a loss in less than two-and-a-half days to begin the series in Adelaide, it's those newcomers who have the tourists within reach of a remarkable victory over the world champions.
Shamar Joseph was the star in Adelaide but it's been Kavem Hodge (71 in the first innings) and spinner Kevin Sinclair (50), who celebrated his maiden Test scalp with a somersaulting backflip, who have shone at the Gabba.
"That is the head reason why we are so tuned in, because we haven’t won in such a long time," veteran quick Kemar Roach said.
"To win a Test match in Australia as a young side with a lot of debutants and guys who have played less than 10 Test matches, I think that would set a great mark for us.
"It is a young group and the guys are energetic. They want to play Test cricket and do well against the No.1 team in the world."
Friday's first hour will be crucial given the patterns of the first two days, when scoring became easier as the ball softened.
In the Gabba's first pink-ball Test in 2016 Pakistan made 450 in their pursuit of a record 490.
"I don’t think you can put a figure on it," Carey said of what Australia could chase down.
"There are going to be opportunities for batters to get in and I don’t see signs of that wicket breaking up too much.
"We know the threat of the first 20 overs and the new ball threat.
"Get through that and there is potential to score a big target.
"See how the first hour goes tomorrow and try to do some damage, then shift into a different plan and keep the pressure on.
"There should be an opportunity for our batters to dig in. Hopefully, it is not a big target but if it is it will be great to see our batters go about it."
