Day 2: WI vs Australia

Another strong Australian batting performance has been nullified by a strong start by West Indian openers Chris Gayle and Devon Smith.

The visitors resumed Day 2 at 3/320, with Darren Lehmann and Steve Waugh the not out batsmen.

Beginning the day on 89, Lehmann began in positive fashion searching for his second Test hundred, but instead he was trapped LBW by Vasbert Drakes when a short ball played low on 96.

Adam Gilchrist then added 113 with Waugh, making yet another half century in typical fashion on a slow outfield.

Once the diminutive left-hander realized the outfield was not to his liking, he took the aerial rout to the boundaries smashing 7 fours and 6 sixes in his 65.

When Devon Smith caught Gilchrist from the bowling off Omari Banks, Australia's lower order was exposed to the inexperienced attack of the West Indians.

Needless to say, Andy Bichel took the opportunity with his promotion to number 7, making a Test-career high score of 71, taking a particular liking to the predictable pace of Jermaine Lawson.

However, Brain Lara miraculously ended Bichel's fun with a very good catch off Banks to leave Australia in the stronghold of 6/568.

The gritty Waugh was finally dismissed for a typical 115, an innings in which most balls found the middle of the bat yet more often than not also found the fielders.

Waugh's dismissal was thanks to Lawson, who mad a complete mess of the Australia captain's leg stump.

Lawson claimed his second and third scalps of Brett Lee (11) and Stuart MacGill (1) as Australia declared their first innings closed at 605.

For the West Indies, Jermaine Lawson snared 3/131, Omari Banks a mammoth 3/204 and Vasbert Drakes 2/85.

Much-hyped Tino Best took 0/99 from 20 overs, suggesting his forceful promotion was rushed. He has still too much to learn.

In counter, openers Chris Gayle (47) and Devon Smith (34) helped the hosts to 0/89 at stumps.

Glenn McGrath has 0/8 from 4 overs in his return to Test cricket.

Scores:

Australia 9 dec 609 (S Waugh 115, R Ponting 113, D Lehmann 96, A Bichel 71, A Gilchrist 65, J Lawson 3/131, O Banks 3/204)

West Indies 0/89 (C Gayle 47, D Smith 34)

Stumps Day 2.

Posted by Andre