Australia vs WI: Day 2

Australia are in a commanding position after two days of the First Test thanks to hundreds from Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting.

Australia resumed day 2 at 120/1 with Langer unbeaten on 55 and ODI skipper Ponting 46*.

However, both men began the day in efficient fashion, looking comfortable against the trying West Indies pace attack and support spin of Marlon Samuels.

Langer was the first of the pair to bring up his century, with a push through the covers off Pedro Collins ending his spell in the nervous nineties and handing him his 14th Test match hundred.

Ponting soon later reached his hundred when he clipped Marlon Samuels past mid on for a boundary in the final over before lunch.

In total the pair added 248 before Ponting's innings of 117 came to an end when he was caught by Samuels off Vasbert Drakes, handing the former calypso kings their second wicket.

Darren Lehmann failed to grasp his chance at number 4, adding just 6 until he was caught by the substitute David Bernard off Drakes, leaving the visitors at 300/3.

Langer was the next man to go when his brilliant innings came to an end, nicely caught by substitute keeper Wavell Hinds, handing Drakes his third wicket.

The Western Australian opener made 146 in his first international match since January.

Captain Steve Waugh then followed Langer into the pavilion after making a smooth 25 when he was trapped LBW to Mervyn Dillon walking across his stumps.

Brad Hogg's dream return to Test cricket was marked when he was trapped plumb LBW by Pedro Collins when batting at number 7.

World Cup hero Andy Bichel joined Adam Gilchrist at the crease and the pair put together an excellent stand, dominating the West Indian bowlers.

Drakes finally earned the breakthrough when he had the polished Bichel brilliantly caught behind by Hinds for 39 from just 46 deliveries.

Three overs later the West Indian bowlers were spared from a further attack when Gilchrist was caught and bowled by Jermaine Lawson to a soft dismissal following a brilliant 81-ball innings of 77.

Jason Gillespie added 7 runs to the total, including a sparkling cover drive before Lawson picked up his 2nd wicket by cleaning up the South Australians stumps after attempting a repeat drive.

Brett Lee was the final man to be dismissed, handing Vasbert Drakes his 5th wicket of the innings following his cameo innings of 20.

For the West Indians, Drakes finished with 5/93 in a gutsy bowling display from the aging professional.

Young tyro Jermaine Lawson took 2/111, Pedro Collins 1/96 and Merv Dillon 1/116. Marlon Samuels and Daren Ganga both went wicket less.

The young West Indian opening pair of Devon Smith and Wavell Hinds saw out the remaining overs of the day after the Australians were dismissed for 489.

Steve Waugh gave Stuart MacGill and Brad Hogg the new ball on a pitch that is becoming increasingly difficult for the batsman against the spinners, resembling a dust bowl.

Smith is undefeated on 13, while Hinds is on 2. MacGill has 0/12 from 3 overs and Hogg 0/4 from his 2.

Scores

West Indies 237 (S Chanderpaul 100, R Jacobs 54*, A Bichel 3/55)

Australia 489 (J Langer 146, R Ponting 117, A Gilchrist 77, V Drakes 5/93)

West Indies 0/16

Stumps Day 2.

Posted by Andre