Mumbai, December 18: After two days of batting plunder the bowlers hit back in the morning session as West Indies went to lunch at 4 for 280.
West Indies, who resumed at 2 for 214, lost Ramnaresh Sarwan and Narsingh Deonarine and had to sweat on their runs as the Australians were more disciplined following the heavy punishment from Chris Gayle’s 70-ball century on Thursday.
Mitchell Johnson was given the main duties during a seven-over spell and it was his job to rough up the batsmen, who were forced into a lot of jumping on to the back foot. The day started badly for West Indies when Sarwan (42) drove at Doug Bollinger’s second delivery and sliced a catch to gully, where Michael Hussey took the ball well above his head. After the strong gains of the second day it was not the opening the tourists hoped for, and life remained tough.
Deonarine tried to fight through but he was undone on 18 when he thought he had a ball to drive, but found Shane Watson at cover instead. The shot gave Johnson his second wicket of the innings and he was Ponting’s main man until shortly before the lunch break, turning his overnight figures of 1 for 68 off 11 into 2 for 92 off 18.
Brendan Nash looks uncomfortable against the short ball and Johnson tried to unsettle his former flat-mate, while the batsman ducked under four balls from a Shane Watson over. Fortunately for Nash, neither of the two bowlers are as fast or intimidating as the West Indians of the 1980s and he was able to weave away without wearing any bruises. There were not a lot of balls for him to hit at stages, but Nash battled, showing a good example to his team for the second innings, and reached 34.
While Dwayne Bravo tried hard to curb his aggression, he couldn’t help himself and played and missed a couple of times aiming big shots. He did connect with a smart off drive for four off Johnson and passed 2000 Test runs during his unbeaten 22.
——Agencies