Dramatic Australian batting collapse gives whiff of hope for Windies in Perth Test
By ANIFriday, December 18, 2009
PERTH - A late collapse of the Australian line up and an incredible day’s play by West Indies has left the third Test match delicately poised at the WACA ground in Perth.
At stumps on day three, Australia were precariously placed at 137 runs for the loss of eight wickets. They have an overall lead of 345 runs, with Nathan Hauritz and debutant Clint McKay at the crease.
Earlier in the day, the match emphatically swung in Australia’s favour when the tourists lost six wickets for 27 runs in the space of nine overs after the lunch break.
Fast bowler Doug Bollinger was Australia’s chief destroyer with the ball, finishing with figures of five for 70 from 20 overs, his first five-wicket haul in only his third Test match.
With West Indies trailing by 208 runs, skipper Ricky Ponting had the choice of enforcing the follow on, but decided against it and Australia eased their way to 66 runs for one wicket before disaster struck, Fox Sports reported.
They lost their next seven wickets for an addition of just 68 runs as Shane Watson (30 runs), Michael Clarke (25 runs), Mike Hussey (17 runs), Marcus North (one run), Brad Haddin (23 runs), Mitchell Johnson (five runs) and Ponting fell at regular intervals. (ANI)
