Hayden and Gilchrist rescue Aussies
CLIFFORD Landers reporting from Australia
Sydney (Friday)- Opener Mathew Hayden notched up the first Super Test
century and with an unbeaten half-century from Adam Gilchrist rescued
Australia from a slump to a convincing first day score of 331 for 6 in
the six-day Super Test against the ICC World XI played at the Sydney
Cricket grounds yesterday. Bad light stopped play five overs short for
the day.
Hayden carried his bat through his 22nd Test century innings and was
involved in three useful partnerships, especially the redeeming 96-run
fifth wicket stand with Adam Gilchrist after they were tottering at 154
for 4.
It was a 'super toss' series for Aussie captain Ricky Ponting as he
won a fourth successive call and again elected to bat first in the Super
Series, giving his side an opportunity to continue with its victory
streak.
Hardworking Sri Lankan spinner Muralitharan playing in his first SCG
Test during his 14-year International career claimed Hayden's wicket
with a flighted and rising delivery which the centurion attempted to cut
but top edged and was caught at backward point by Jaqcues Kallis for a
determined 111 in 262 minutes off 162 balls with 11 fours while the
flamboyant Gilchrist was unbeaten on 94
This was Hayden's back-to-back century after his career saving final
Ashes Test hundred at the Oval in England last month.
After the Battle of the Ashes resumed between opening bowlers
England's Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff and the Aussie openers,
Harmison struck a telling blow as his third ball found the bat-pad gap
of Langer bowling him for a duck.
Sri Lankan champion spinner Muttiah Muralitharan came in to bowl in
the 16th over with a hard and shiny ball but it was Flintoff in his
second spell who accounted for the prize wicket of Ponting who salvaged
the innings with a 72-run partnership with Hayden.
A catch at second slip by Jacques Kallis ended his neat 46-run
innings which contained one six and fours. The Aussies took lunch at 82
for 2.
Michael Clarke became the first Test player to be given out caught by
the third umpire when Darrel Hair after a lengthy deliberation brought
Michael Clarke's knock of 39 off a thin bat-pad edge at silly-mid off by
Sewag off Vettori and the 82-run third wicket partnership with Hayden to
an end and soon after was again involved in ruling Simon Katich - run
out off a superb direct hit by skipper Graeme Smith from mid-on for a
duck with his bat inside the crease but hanging ungrounded. 163 for 4.
As expected stumper Mark Boucher dropped a thin edge catch off
Murali's bowling when Hayden was on 85.
Off the next Murali ball umpire Hair who was consulted on many
occasions during the day by the field umpires ruled against a first-ball
lbw appeal against Adam Gilchrist.
Gilchrist started off shakily and survived two snicks passed diving
slip-fielder Rahul Dravid off Murali and Vettori respectively but later
gained confidence and continued with his ODI Super Series form during
his enterprising 94 not out off just 109 balls and which contained eight
fours and four mighty sixes off Vettori.
Gilchrist playing in his 75th Test and who is 6 runs short of his
16th century also shared a valuable 63 runs for the sixth wicket with
Murali's 565th Test victim Shane Watson (24)- trapped lbw. Murali
finished with figures of 2 for 102 off 30 overs.
Gilchrist was joined by Shane Warne and immediately after the second
new ball was taken the batsmen walked off after umpires offered the
light.
Meanwhile rain is threatening to disrupt proceedings during the next
five days.
AUSTRALIA Ist INNINGS
J. Langer b Harmison 0
M. Hayden c Kallis b Muralitharan 111
R. Ponting c Kallis b Flintoff 46
M. Clarke c Sehwag b Vettori 39
S. Katich run out (Smith) 0
A. Gilchrist not out 94
S. Watson lbw b Muralitharan 24
S. Warne not out 1
Extras (B5, LB6, NB5) 16
TOTAL (6 wkts, 85 overs) 331
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0, 2-73, 3-154, 4-163, 5-260, 6-323.
BOWLING: Harmison 16-3-55-1 (2nb), Flintoff 15-3-55-1 (2nb),
Kallis 7-1-35-0 (1nb), Muralitharan 30-3-102-2,
Vettori 17-3-73-1.
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