Australia give firm reply to Windies huge total
By ANISaturday, December 5, 2009
ADELAIDE - Openers Shane Watson and Simon Katich gave Australia a bright start to their first innings in the second Test against the West Indies being played at the Adelaide Oval here, after middle order West Indian batsman Brendan Nash’s 92 helped his team to reach a highly competitive 451 on the third day of the game.
At tea Australia had reached 66 for no loss, with Watson batting on 42, and Katich on 21.
Earlier, Nash missed out on a century, but he and Ravi Rampaul rewrote the record books in putting up the highest West Indies total in a Test innings against Australia since Brian Lara’s 277 at the SCG in 1992-93.
Nash and Rampaul also put on 68 for the final wicket, which was the highest tenth-wicket stand for West Indies against Australia, beating a 30-year-old mark set by Colin Croft and Joel Garner.
Nash was the last man out when he missed a Mitchell Johnson delivery that nipped back in and was bowled for 92.
He added 12 to his lunch total, but the entertainment value really came from Rampaul, who romped to an unbeaten 40, which was the second-highest Test score ever by a West Indies No. 11.
Rampaul’s highlights included a monstrous six over long on during a Watson over that cost 15.
Nash was more circumspect and continued the team’s theme of redemption after Brisbane, where he had been scratchy.
Despite retiring hurt during the opening day after taking a blow to the arm from Mitchell Johnson, and suffering another similar knock from Johnson on the second day, Nash fought on to help West Indies add 115 to their overnight total.
He ticked the score over with singles and cut Johnson confidently for a pair of fours, never becoming too bogged down.
Nash was disappointed at missing the chance for a second Test hundred when he misjudged a ball from his former flat-mate Johnson.
On the second day, it was a brash Dwayne Bravo and a stubborn Shivnarine Chanderpaul who steered the West Indies to a respectable opening day total of 6-336.
Bravo scored a dashing 104 with 12 fours and a six, while Chanderpaul scored 62. Both added 116 for the fourth wicket, which steadied the visitors from an uncertain 3-84 after winning the toss and batting.
Pacers Doug Bollinger (2-42) and Shane Watson (2-42) were the more successful Australian bowlers, while Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz each claimed a wicket. (ANI)
