After collapsing to be all out for 225 on the opening day, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins both took wickets in the afternoon session on Sunday (Monday AEST).
Australia would have been happy to restrict West Indies to 57 runs in the 23-over session, given batting is seemingly much more difficult under lights at Kingston's Sabina Park.
But the main talking point of the first session was a potential missed chance to run out John Campbell on 15.
After the right-hander dropped the ball to Cummins at mid-off and took a quick single, Australia's captain threw down the stumps with one to aim at.
There was a minimal appeal from the Australians, as Campbell had looked to have made his ground easily before replays showed he had bounced his bat.
Cummins remonstrated with umpire Nitin Menon after the next ball, and could be heard to say "I appealed", while asking while it was not referred upstairs.
The call would have been a difficult one for third-umpire Richard Kettleborough, with it unclear whether Campbell's bat passed the crease before it bounced up.
Cricket's laws state a batter has made their ground once either their body or bat touches the ground past the popping crease when completing a run.
Campbell went to the tea break unbeaten on 31, aided by four overthrows from Steve Smith just before the break.
A win in Jamaica would hand Australia a 3-0 series whitewash, and give the tourists the best possible start to trying to win back the World Test Championship in 2027.
Having left out spinner Nathan Lyon while fit for the first time in 12 years, Australia''s four-strong pace attack still got plenty of seam movement on day two.
Hazlewood removed Brandon King for 14 in that fashion, seaming one back into the right-hander's front pad to have him lbw.
Cummins then made use of extra bounce to have Roston Chase (18) caught at slip, with one that reared up and took the outside edge.
12°C