Travis Head strikes a magnificent 119, before Josh Hazlewood takes another 4 wickets to put Australia firmly in control of the first Test match against West Indies at the Adelaide Oval.
Head’s knock, his 7th Test century, featured 12 fours and 3 sixes as he also crossed the milestone of 3000 Test runs.
Australia slipped to 129-5 in the morning session as Green, Khawaja and Marsh all departed, but Head’s innings of brutal shotmaking all around the ground propelled them to a total of 283 all out.
Reflecting on the difficult nature of the pitch, Head said: “I definitely didn’t feel in.
“I feel like the experiences from playing lots of Shield cricket here helped.
“Today I just tried to stay as relaxed as I could. There were moments where 15, 20 minutes I felt really good, and the next 15 I sort of battled through.
“It’s funny when you don’t feel at your very best, you find a way to make runs.”
Pace bowler Shamar Joseph continued his fine introduction to Test cricket- collecting figures of 5-94 from 20 overs.
Kemar Roach and Justin Greaves ably supported Joseph in taking 2 wickets apiece.
Trailing by 95 on first innings, the tourists had huge to work but got off to the worst possible start.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul was dismissed first ball when he feathered an outside edge to Alex Carey, before Hazlewood removed Brathwaite courtesy of a fine reflex catch from centurion Head at short-leg.
Hazlewood then continued his role as chief tormentor- removing Athanaze and Hodge to leave the tourists shellshocked at 19-4 inside 10 overs.
He ended the day with incredible figures of 4-18 from 8 overs.
Kirk Mckenzie briefly countered stroking a quick-fire 26, but a careless drive granted Cameron Green a wicket second ball when Marnus Labuschagne took a regulation catch at cover.
There was also time for Nathan Lyon to take his first, dismissing Justin Greaves LBW with the final ball of the day as DRS overturned an original not-out decision.
Ending the day 73-6, West Indies still trail by 22 runs.
They’ll need Joshua Da Silva and a whole lot of luck to exit Adelaide with anything other than a heavy defeat…





Leave a comment