WI chase massive Aussie 605

BRIDGETOWN: The West Indies hit back after a record-breaking 30th century from Steve Waugh to launch a spirited reply to Australia’s 605 for nine declared on yesterday’s second day of the third cricket Test.

The home team was 89 without loss at the close after Australia piled on the runs after resuming from 320 for three. Chris Gayle hit nine boundaries in an unbeaten 47, while fellow left-hander Devon Smith was 34 not out with six fours. But the day belonged to Waugh, who notched his 30th Test century in his 159th match. The 37-year-old passed the late great, Sir Don Bradman (29 in just 52 matches) as the most prolific Australian century-maker.

Leading the list is the Indian pair of former opener Sunil Gavaskar (34) and current star Sachin Tendulkar (31). Waugh also passed Gavaskar (10, 122) into second among Test cricket’s run-scorers when he reached 59. Only former Australian teammate, current selector Allan Border (11, 174), now stands ahead of Waugh. Waugh, who played the anchor role throughout the day, got aggressive support from Adam Gilchrist (65 off 80 balls) and Andy Bichel (71 off 71 balls). The pair shared successive century stands with their skipper after Darren Lehmann’s quest for his second successive century ended in the day’s second over.

Left-hander Lehmann, 89 overnight, fell for 96 when Vasbert Drakes claimed him leg before to umpire David Shepherd’s dubious verdict. But the West Indies bowlers toiled again on an unresponsive surface as the Aussie batsmen made merry. Gilchrist lashed three sixes and two fours in putting on 113 for the fifth wicket. When he fell to the expensive rookie off-spinner Omari Banks, the promoted Bichel filled the void admirably. The fast bowler, promoted to No. 7 in the order, smote seven fours and two sixes in registering his maiden Test half century. He perished when he pulled a Banks full toss to midwicket as he sought quick runs. Bichel and Waugh added 124 for the sixth wicket. Fast bowler Jermaine Lawson returned to claim three late wickets and the best bowling figures of three for 131 off 32.3 overs. Waugh, after batting five and quarter hours, eventually missed a heave to leg and was bowled. He counted just eight boundaries off 233 deliveries.

The West Indies, whose fielding was poor throughout the day, missed three chances off Waugh. Ramnaresh Sarwan dropped him at 11 and 57, low down at midwicket and then running around from deep midwicket, while wicket-keeper Carlton Baugh grassed a leg side deflection when he was 85. Lawson also bowled Brett Lee (11) and Stuart MacGill (0) off consecutive balls before the declaration came an hour into the final session. Jason Gillespie smacked two sixes and a four in 18 not out off eight balls. Banks, on debut, finished with three for 204 off 40 overs. It earned the 20-year-old the unenviable record of conceding the most runs in an innings on debut. The previous mark belonged to Indian left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni. He took a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket before being lashed for 195 runs off 70 overs against Sri Lanka in Colombo, 1997.

Test Scoreboard
WEST INDIES VS AUSTRALIA
Australia Ist Inns
(Overnight 320 for three)
J Langer c Chanderpaul b Banks 78
M Hayden c Gayle b Drakes 27
R Ponting run out (Best/Baugh) 113
D Lehmann lbw b Drakes 96
S Waugh b Lawson 115
A Gilchrist c Smith b Banks 65
A Bichel c Lara b Banks 71
B Lee b Lawson 11
J Gillespie not out 18
S MacGill b Lawson 0
EXTRAS (B3, LB3, W3, NB2) 11
TOTAL (For 9 wkts dec) 605
Overs: 154.3.
Wickets fell at: 43, 151, 292, 331, 444, 568, 580, 605, 605.
Did not bat: Glenn McGrath.
BOWLING: J Lawson 32.3-2-131-3 (W1), T Best 20-1-99-0 (W1, NB2), V Drakes 30-2-85-2, Oi Banks 40-2-204-3, C Gayle 31-5-79-0 (W1), R Sarwan 1-0-1-0.
    
West Indies Ist Inns
C Gayle not out 47
DSmith not out 34
EXTRAS (B2, LB2, NB4) 8
TOTAL (For no wkts) 89
Overs: 23.
To bat: D Ganga, B Lara, S Chanderpaul, R Sarwan, C Baugh, V Drakes, O Banks, J Lawson, T Best.
BOWLING: McGrath 4-2-8-0, Gillespie 5-1-11-0 (NB1), Lee 5-1-30-0 (NB2), Stuart MacGill 6-0-22-0 (NB1), Darren Lehmann 3-1-14-0.