Darren Bravo smashes through the covers. Photo: Provided

Marlon Samuels pulls for six during his second innings knock. Photo: Provided

Australia celebrate the second Test victory against West Indies in Melbourne. Photo: Provided

The West Indies lost the Test but gained some respect, while Australia have Nathan Lyon and Mitch Marsh to thank for sparing them from needing to return to the MCG on day five to win the Boxing Day Test and seal a series victory.

Off-spinner and Man of the Match, Lyon and all-rounder Marsh were responsible for all but three of the West Indies second-innings wickets to fall on day four. The last three came in what were scheduled to be the final four overs of the day. 

The best contribution made by the fast-bowling contingent of Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle all day came when Pattinson took a sprawling catch running in from deep fine-leg off Marsh to remove Jerome Taylor for a duck. It ended the West Indies' innings on 282, giving Australia a 177-run victory and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the Frank Worrell Trophy series.

Given how badly the West Indies were beaten in Hobart, and started this Test in the same fashion, captain Jason Holder said he was pleased with his team's response in Melbourne, even though it too ended in defeat. "I'm obviously proud of the way the guys showed some fight in this game. I'm still disappointed we didn't put up a better fight but still credit to the way the guys played, especially Darren Bravo in the first innings and Denesh Ramdin in the second innings. I just thought the bowlers tried [too]," he said. "A better effort in this game."

Australia captain Steve Smith echoed those sentiments from Holder.

"The West Indies were up for the fight. I think they improved a lot from the Test," he said.

Marsh's tenure in the Test team has been - and remains - under scrutiny because of his modest contributions with the bat. With the ball, however, his continued improvement has been obvious. He took another positive step on Tuesday by claiming 4-61, which included removing the only two West Indies players to reach a half-century: Ramdin and Holder.