Outstanding young West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo stalled Australia’s push for victory in the third Test with a spirited half-century on the fourth day at Adelaide Oval on Monday.
Bravo, a century-maker in the second Hobart Test and the taker of six wickets in the first innings, was the tourists’ last hope of building a challenging last innings total for the Australians to chase.
After the loss of five wickets in a calamitous morning session, Bravo steadied the West Indies’ innings with help from wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and fast bowler Fidel Edwards.
At tea, the West Indies were 200 for eight representing an overall lead of 177 runs with Bravo unbeaten on 61 in 171 minutes and Edwards on nine.
Bravo, who scored 113 in a 182-run record partnership with Ramdin in Hobart, took a particular liking to Stuart MacGill’s bowling, crashing the leg-spinner for three consecutive boundaries in one over and two in a row in his next.
Leg-spinner Shane Warne flummoxed the tourists taking five of the six wickets to fall.
Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker had claimed 6-80 off 33 overs at tea to take his career tally to 645 wickets and 84 wickets in the calendar year.
He also became the highest wicket-taker in Tests at Adelaide Oval, surpassing Australian fast bowling great Dennis Lillee’s 45 with 51.
The West Indies, who resumed at 68 for two, were unravelled by a combination of the irresistible Warne and two poor umpiring decisions in the pre-lunch session.
Warne, getting appreciable turn out of the foot-marks, had the West Indians in a spin and got the big wicket of first innings double-centurymaker Brian Lara for 17.
In the over after first-hour drinks, Warne got an edge off Test cricket’s leading runscorer to the outstretched left hand of Matthew Hayden at slip.
Warne also got the wickets of nightwatchman Daren Powell bowled around his legs for two, skipper Shivnarine Chanderpaul caught at short leg by Brad Hodge for four and Dwayne Smith leg before wicket for a two-ball duck.
Smith looked unlucky as replays showed he played an inside-edge off his bat on to his pads, but he was given out by Pakistan umpire Aleem Dar.
Ramnaresh Sarwan, showing commitment missing for much of his poor tour, was given a rough decision by New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden when given lbw to Brett Lee for 62.
Replays appeared to show the ball missing leg-stump but Sarwan was sent on a slow walk back to the pavilion with his head hung low in disappointment at the decision. – AFP