Patient Shane Watson helps Aussies take upper hand in Second Test

Shane Watson hit a patient half-century as Australia reached 208 for five on the first day of the second Test against West Indies on a slow Queen's Park Oval pitch. Mike Hussey, on 26, and Matthew Wade, with 11, were unbeaten at the close, putting on a useful 30-run partnership after both men had survived dropped catches.

Watson was Australia's top scorer, making a solid 56 in 219 minutes.

“It was hard to get the pace of the ball because it was very slow. Also the ball was very soft,” said Watson.

“The fields that (West Indies skipper) Darren Sammy set meant it was hard to rotate the strike at times. I was trying to do everything I could to keep the scoreboard moving, but on a wicket like this it does make it difficult.” The day was also a mini-triumph for Windies' off-spinner Shane Shillingford who came in for Devendra Bishoo to play his first Test for 18 months after having to undergo remedial work on his action.

He bowled 32 overs, taking two for 56, including opener David Warner in his first over. “It obviously felt pretty good coming back to Test cricket and getting a wicket in my first over,” he said. Australia, who won the first Test in Barbados by three wickets, decided to play two spinners for the first time in nearly four years, with Michael Beer coming in to partner Nathan Lyon.

Warner (29) and Ed Cowan (28) put on 53 for the first wicket to provide the foundation for Australia, while seamer Kemar Roach was the pick of the West Indies seam attack. He removed Cowan and later Ricky Ponting (seven) before the tea interval.

Shillingford bowled the first over of spin in the match in the 15th over and had immediate success.

Warner did not quite get to the pitch of his fifth ball but continued through with a drive and the ball came off the outside edge straight to Sammy at slip.

Roach, who had opened the bowling from the Media Centre End, was brought back by Sammy at the Brian Lara Pavilion End for a couple of overs before lunch.

The third ball of his new spell hit Cowan low on the front pad and despite a review, the opener was on his way back to the pavilion as Australia went to lunch on 74 for two. In the sixth over after the break, Roach took his second wicket.PORT SPAIN April 15, 2012

Australia                             1st innings

D. Warner c Sammy b Shillingford	29
E. Cowan lbw b Roach			28 
S. Watson c Barath  b Shillingford	56
R. Ponting c Sammy b Roach		 7
M. Clarke c Shillingford b Deonarine	45
M. Hussey not out			26
M. Wade not out				11
Extras (lb3, nb3)			6 
Total (5 wickets; 90 overs)		208
To bat: M. Beer, B. Hilfenhaus, N. Lyon, J. Pattinson
Fall of wickets: 1-53 (Warner), 2-65 (Cowan), 3-83 (Ponting), 4-167 (Clarke), 5-178 (Watson)
Bowling: Edwards 13-7-28-0 (1nb), Roach 18-4-77-2 (1nb), Sammy 12-4-16-0, 
Shillingford 32-11-56-2 (1nb), Deonarine 15-3-28-1