Aussies command warm-up

GEORGETOWN: Australia ended the second day of  their warm-up match against the West Indies Cricket Board’s Carib Beer XI team yesterday with a commanding lead of 425 with two second innings remaining.

At the close of play, the visitors were 180 for eight in their second innings after opting not to enforce the follow-on when the Carib Beer XI was routed for 132 in their first innings just after lunch. Martin Love on 55, his second half-century of the match, and Stuart MacGill on 17, were the not out batsmen. Australia, which ended the first day on 377 for three, declared at the overnight total. Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg led the Australian bowling with four for 23 from 6.3 overs after fast bowlers Andy Bichel (two for 10) and Jason Gillespie (two for 13) had made the initial breakthrough. Leg-spinner MacGill, vying with Hogg for a place in the Australian Test team, finished with two for 49 from eight overs. Opener Imran Jan stood out for the Carib Beer XI, batting through the innings for an undefeated 42 which included five fours in 152 minutes.