Aussies smash 391/3 at Oval

YESTERDAY umpires Asoka DeSilva and Rudy Kortzen maintained their consistent poor officiating as the Australians bludgeoned the West Indies attack for a mammoth 391 for three wickets at the close of play on the opening day of the second Cable and Wireless Cricket Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port-of-Spain.

Australian batsmen Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann featured in a record breaking third-wicket partnership of 315 runs that took the life out of an already unpenetrative West Indies bowling attack. Lehmann, the benefactor of a caught behind decision at 65, rallied to score his maiden Test century. Vice-captain Ponting followed his milestone in the First Test with his 16th hundred shortly after. Coming together with the score at 56 for two, the two thrilled the large Oval crowd with an array of shots all around the park, as the West Indian bowlers conceded run rates that would be considered disappointing in a One-Day International much less a Test.

Ponting was the first to reach his half-century off 60 balls with nine fours, followed by Lehmann in 92 balls with the help of six boundaries. Ponting was let off with his score on 37 by Marlon Samuels off Mervyn Dillon, the home team’s best bowler yesterday. He however made best use of the chance to remain unbeaten on 146 when the umpires raised the “white flag” to the rampaging Australians. Ponting brought up his century off 151 balls in 230 minutes with 16 fours just after the tea break. Since assuming the captaincy of the one-day side  14 months ago it was Ponting’s 12th international hundred. He has now scored seven Test and five One-Day International centuries since last February.

Lehmann reached his mark soon after with the help off 13 fours in 225 minutes from 160 balls. Their stand was broken by Vasbert Drakes who had Lehmann caught behind by debutant Carlton Baugh for 160. His final tally came in 312 minutes off 229 balls with 21 fours and a six. The third wicket partnership realised 315 runs which broke the old mark off 295 by Colin McDonald and Neil Harvey against the West Indies in 1955. They also surpassed the third-wicket stand at the Queen’s Park Oval on the way, eclipsing the record off 225 by Bob Cowper and Brian Bath in 1965.

Ponting remained unbeaten on 146 at the end with wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist keeping him company on 14. Dillon grabbed two for 79 and Drakes had one for 79. Earlier in the day the Australians won the toss and choose to take first strike a decision that was vindicated at the end of play. Openers Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer played untroubled getting to 49, when Dillon got the latter leg before for 25. Television replays showed the ball clearly pitching outside the leg stump. Seven runs later a repeat dismissal with the ball again pitching outside leg stump accounted for Hayden for 30. West Indies gave Test debuts to the Jamaican pair of Baugh and David Bernard Jnr, while Australia played an unchanged side from the First Test.