Warner Warns India
Hits equal fourth fastest century in Tests :
Australian opener David Warner slammed the equal fourth fastest
century in Test cricket on a horror opening day for India in the third
Test in Perth Friday.
Warner reached his hundred off 69 balls and did it in style, clouting
debutant paceman Vinay Kumar for his third six of the innings.
The prodigious hit was the second-quickest ton at Perth’s WACA
Ground, behind Adam Gilchrist’s 57-ball blitz against England in 2006.
It capped a miserable day for the tourists with Sachin Tendulkar’s
quest for an elusive 100th international hundred again delayed after he
was dismissed for just 15. The Indians, down 2-0 in the series and
needing to win both remaining Tests to retain the Border-Gavaskar
Trophy, were routed for just 161 off 60.2 overs after being sent in to
bat.
And they could not contain dynamic opener Warner, who has now scored
two centuries in five Tests. Australia raced to 149 without loss at
stumps, with Warner unbeaten on 104 and Ed Cowan on 40 for Australia to
trail by just 12 runs after just the first day.
Warner and Cowan scored at better than six runs an over against an
impotent Indian bowling attack. The only setback for Warner was when he
was struck around the left ear by Umesh Yadav on 80, the left-hander
looking groggy as play was held up for several minutes after he sought
treatment from the team physio. But when play resumed he clubbed the
next two balls for four and took just seven more deliveries to sprint to
his second Test ton.
Virat Kholi topscored in the Indian innings with 44, while both V.V.S.
Laxman and Gautam Gambhir battled hard on a lively pitch for 31 each.
However, the Indian tail again showed little appetite for the contest
as the tourists lost their last six wickets for just 30 runs.
The rejuvenated swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus continued his fine season
and took his series tally to 19 wickets with four for 43, while Peter
Siddle claimed three for 42.
It was another inept batting display by India’s ageing top order,
with Virender Sehwag out for a four-ball duck and misfiring Rahul Dravid
making just nine, while Tendulkar looked in superb form but also went
cheaply. Having played two elegant straight drives in the first over he
faced, Tendulkar was deceived by a delivery from recalled paceman Ryan
Harris that nipped back trapping him leg before wicket. AFP |