MacGill spins Aussies to easy win

BRIDGETOWN: Stuart McGill captured his second five-wicket haul against the University of the West Indies’ Vice Chancellor’s XI yesterday to set up an easy six-wicket victory for Australia cricketers in a practice match.

The Australian leg-spin bowler captured five wickets for 45 runs from 12 overs to send the Vice Chancellor’s XI crashing to 162 all out in their second innings about 20 minutes before lunch. Set 95 to win, Australia reached the target for the loss of four wickets on the final day of the three-day match at Three Ws Oval. McGill, who captured his 100th Test wicket in the Second Test against the West Indies in Trinidad, has match figures of ten for 85 from 25 overs, which must make the selectors think hard about whether to give his place to fast bowling star Glenn McGrath, who arrived late to the series.

The Australian selectors have to decide whether to keep the five-man attack which has led the side to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-test series. The Vice Chancellor’s XI had gone to bed on 32 for two. Captain Philo Wallace, the former West Indies opening batsman, and university student Dary Balgobin, batted through most of the first hour to take them to 91 for two. McGill, however, removed Balgobin who was caught in the outfield for 26, and Wallace, caught behind for the top score of 53, to leave the West Indies’ squad on 111 for four. There was no substance or stability from the rest of the batting and the university side lost their last six wickets for 51 runs in just over an hour.

Brad Hogg supported McGill with two wickets for 34 runs, and there was one wicket apiece for Glenn McGrath and Brad Williams.  Although the target appeared small, the Australians suffered a few hiccups along the way. They lost captain Steve Waugh shortly after they resumed from their lunchtime position of five for one. Waugh was caught behind for one off medium pacer Chris Gayle and Andy Bichel, who opened the batting with his skipper, was caught at second slip off Dary Balgobin to leave Australia 28 for two. The Third Test between the West Indies and Australia starts at Kensington Oval on Thursday.