Drakes (5/93) puts brakes on Aussies

GEORGETOWN: Accomplished centuries from Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting, as well as a forthright 77 from Adam Gilchrist, led Australia’s domination of the West Indies in yesterday’s second day of play in the opening Cable and Wireless cricket Test.

Pacer Vasbert Drakes took five for 93 but Australia, resuming on 120 for one, piled up 489 in reply to the home team’s modest first day total of 237.At close, the West Indies were 16 without loss in their second innings, still trailing by 236. Langer and Ponting set up the commanding position by stretching their second wicket stand to a mammoth 248 — an Australian record in the Caribbean.

Left-hander Langer, overnight 55, stroked his way to 146, his 14th Test century, lashing 18 fours and two sixes from 271 balls. Vice-captain Ponting was just as impressive in cruising to his 15th hundred at this level just before lunch. The 28-year-old Tasmanian right-hander, resuming on 46, eventually fell for 117 off 195 balls in 289 minutes. He struck 18 fluent boundaries. Drakes brought the West Indies back in the afternoon as five wickets fell for 77 runs, but Gilchrist stopped the rot with another important counterattack.

The left-hander smashed nine fours and two meaty sixes in 77 off 81 balls. He gained excellent support from Andy Bichel (39) and Brett Lee (26) toward the end of the innings. Bichel lashed eight fours in helping Gilchrist put on 85 for the seventh wicket. The West Indies had to wait until after lunch to make their first breakthrough, as Langer and Ponting took full advantage of excellent batting conditions. The 33-year-old Drakes removed Ponting to a low catch to Marlon Samuels at first slip.

Darren Lehmann (6) also fell to the Barbadian as substitute David Bernard hauled in a stunning diving catch at backward point. Langer was Drakes’ third victim as stand-in wicket-keeper Wavell Hinds pouched his thin edge in the second over with the second new ball. When Drakes’ pace mates Mervyn Dillon and Pedro Collins also got into the act, Australia slid to 362 for six. Dillon trapped record-breaking Australian skipper Steve Waugh leg before for 25, while Collins’ inswinger gained a similarly clear verdict against left-hander Brad Hogg (3). But Gilchrist and the lower order restored Australian dominance with a volley of boundaries.

Drakes returned to claim Bichel as Hinds held an excellent one-handed catch to a thick edge. Jermaine Lawson ended Gilchrist’s quest for an eighth Test century with a return catch and followed quickly by bowling Jason Gillespie (7). Drakes got a deserving fifth wicket to end the innings as Lee spooned a pull to wide mid-on. In fading light, West Indies openers Hinds (2) and Devon Smith (13) safely negotiated five overs from the spinners until close. The five-day match continues today.