The unlikely duo of Joshua Da Silva and Kavem Hodge have rescued the West Indies with a gutsy counter-attack on the opening day of the pink-ball Test against Australia at the Gabba.

The tourists were reeling at 5-64 following an early collapse before wicketkeeper Da Silva and all-rounder Hodge, who was playing his second Test match, combined for a 149-run partnership to flip the script and frustrate the Australian bowlers.

The West Indies were 8-266 at stumps, with West Indies debutant Kevin Sinclair unbeaten overnight on 16.

Australia’s fast bowlers wreaked havoc in the afternoon session, continuing from where they left off at Adelaide Oval last week by steaming through the West Indies top order. Starc claimed a trio of wickets, including his 350th Test scalp, with the bouncy Gabba deck creating plenty of headaches for the visitors.

However, Da Silva and Hodge took advantage of the softened ball and flattened pitch after the dinner break, patiently surviving 52 overs together in a gritty fightback.

Earlier, Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and elected to bat first in sweltering conditions, with drinks rushed onto the ground after just four overs. The West Indies captain was given out LBW in the second over of the match, but he successfully reviewed the decision after replays showed a thick inside edge onto the pads.

However, Brathwaite couldn’t make the most of the reprieve, lazily fending at a length delivery from Josh Hazlewood in the channel and feathering the Kookaburra through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 4.

Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kirk McKenzie set about rebuilding the innings with a 33-run partnership for the second wicket before the West Indies lost 4-22 during an eventful passage of play before the dinner break.

Australian captain Pat Cummins was the first to strike, with McKenzie flashing at a wide delivery and nicking towards Usman Khawaja at first slip, before Starc ripped the heart out of the West Indies’ top order with three quick wickets. Chanderpaul edged behind to Steve Smith at second slip for 21 before Alick Athanaze and Justin Greaves also fell victim to the left-armed quick, nicking off for 8 and 6 respectively.

Da Silva and Hodge steadied the ship with their marathon sixth-wicket stand, the highest against Australia in pink-ball Tests and the longest of the summer to date.

The hosts turned to a short-pitched barrage during the wicketless twilight session, with Cummins even throwing the ball to Marnus Labuschagne in search of a breakthrough.

“I was bloody bored out there,” Australian all-rounder Mitchell Marsh confessed during the tea break.

Australia’s frustration grew as the artificial lights took effect when Cummins found Hodge’s outside edge in the 65th over, but the Kookaburra sailed through the vacant second slip region for a boundary. A few minutes later, all-rounder Cameron Green couldn’t hold onto a tough one-handed chance at gully off Starc’s bowling, giving Hodge another life on 59.

Cummins cycled through eight different bowlers on Thursday, marking the first time Australia has achieved the feat in the first innings of a home Test since 2014.

Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon broke the marathon stand in the 78th over, trapping Da Silva on the pads from around the wicket for 79, the third-highest score of his Test career. The right-hander called for a desperate review, but three lights appeared on Hawkeye.

The second new ball did the trick for Starc, who found Hodge’s outside edge on 71 with Smith swallowing the chance at second slip.

“The pink ball destroyer strikes,” Brett Lee said on Fox Cricket.

West Indies vice-captain Alzarri Joseph and Sinclair provided some late entertainment, combining for a 41-run partnership that featured several elegant straight punches and lofted cover drives, along with some fortuitous edges through the slips cordon.

But on what was ultimately the final delivery of the day, Joseph edged behind for 32, with Hazlewood giving him a send-off before celebrating with his teammates. Starc finished the day with figures of 4-68, continuing his scintillating form with the pink ball, while Smith held onto three catches.

Earlier, Sinclair was given his maiden cap by the West Indies legend Carl Hooper to become the nation’s 338th men’s Test cricketer. Meanwhile, Green stood apart from his teammates during wicket celebrations and the national anthem after testing positive for Covid-19 the previous day.

A total of 23,602 patrons walked through the gates on Thursday, making it the highest attendance for the first day of a West Indies Test at the Gabba.