Fine hundreds from openers Simon Katich and Phil Jaques put Australia in command of the third and final Test against West Indies on Saturday. Katich batted through the entire day to remain undefeated on 148 - his fourth Test hundred and highest Test score - and Jaques made 108 - his third Test hundred.
Australia reached 330 for three in their second innings when stumps were drawn on the third day of the Test at Kensington Oval.
The tourists now lead by 365 runs with seven wickets standing, after Katich and Jaques dominated most of the day with a 223-run opening stand that was broken about half-hour before the tea break.
Jaques reached his landmark, when he drove left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn through extra cover for his 10th four before Fidel Edwards poached him just before tea.
It was the left-hander's highest score in the three Tests. Katich soon after reached his milestone, when he miscued a hook at a bouncer from Jerome Taylor through backward square leg for a single.
It was Katich's second hundred of the series, following his 113 in the first innings of second Test in Antigua, and his highest score in 26 Tests.
But unlike his opening partner he made sure he kept his wicket all the way through to the end.
Katich hardly offered a chance during his marathon innings, but he was dropped on 145, when Dwayne Bravo at leg-slip put him down off Benn, after he flicked at a delivery lined on leg-stump.
Australia however, lost two wickets in the final period to lift the spirits of West Indies, after a long, hard day.
Captain Ricky Ponting was dropped on 18, when Edwards muffed a chance at mid-off off Benn, but Daren Powell made sure he did little damage, when he had him caught at mid-wicket for 39 mistiming a pull.
In the closing overs, Mike Hussey was caught at leg-slip for 18 off Benn, whose height, bounce, and turn had given the Aussie batsmen some trouble to negotiate without him reaping the rewards.
Earlier, the two openers had batted through the entire morning period to carry Australia to 163 without loss at the lunch interval.
Australia had continued from their overnight total of 35 without loss, and the two openers capitalised on the easier nature of the pitch and dropped anchor, as West Indies only seemed to be only going through the motions.
Katich chopped his 107th delivery from West Indies captain Chris Gayle - trundling his uncomplicated off-breaks - to square third man for two to reach his 50.
Jaques soon followed his lead and guided his 124th delivery from left-arm spinner Benn to backward point for two to reach the half-century mark.
Katich and Jaques completed their hundreds before tea to help Australia reach 249 for one at the break.
Jaques was dismissed, when Edwards, energised by a new vein of cheering from his teammates and a few hundred local spectators, roared in and made the breakthrough.
Jaques, chasing a ball angled across him, was caught behind chasing a wide ball, much to the delight of Edwards, his teammates, and the cheering spectators.
Australia lead the three-Test series 1-0, after they won the opening Test at Sabina Park in the Jamaica capital of Kingston by 95 runs.
The second Test at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in the Antigua village of North Sound was drawn. As a result, the Aussies have already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy.
No comments:
Post a Comment