Running away with the match

Adelaide, December 12

Opener David Warner’s (102) second century in as many innings powered Australia to 290 for five in their second innings and gave the hosts a commanding 363-run lead against India after the fourth day of the first Test at the Adelaide Oval here on Friday.

Left-hander Warner, who had scored a belligerent 145 in the first innings, registered his 11th ton to help the hosts build their lead quickly after India were bowled out for 444.

Warner scored at a brisk pace in a knock laced with 11 boundaries and a six, frustrating and demoralising the visitors. The 28-year-old Warner first shared a 38-run stand for the first wicket with Chris Rogers (21).

Warner continued unperturbed even as Rogers was soon dismissed. He singled out leggie Karn Sharma for special treatment, smacking him for six boundaries. He also used the sweep shot to nice effect against the spinner, mixing it up with straight drives and punches through the covers.

Shane Watson (33) did well to support Warner, who looked in no mood to let Indian bowlers go unpunished. Their 102-run partnership ended when a reverse swinging Mohammed Shami delivery went between Watson’s bat and pad to hit his stumps.

The Warmer show, however, continued, with a bit of help from Lady Luck. Varun Aaron bowled him when he was on 66 off a no-ball; he got a second reprieve at 90 when Murali Vijay grassed a difficult chance.

Warner made most of the chances to complete his century with a pull to mid-wicket. Warner lost his wicket soon after reaching the three figures, becoming the first Australian in five years to notch up 1000 Test runs in a year. He attempted a switch hit off a Karn delivery only to get bowled. Steven Smith (52no) and Mitchell Marsh (40) chipped in with useful knocks to swell the lead further.

Earlier, India could add only 75 runs to their overnight 369 for five and conceded a 73-run lead. Nathon Lyon removed overnight batsmen Rohit Sharma (43) and Wridhiman Saha (25) before taking the wicket of Ishant Sharma to claim five wickets for 134 runs. — IANS

Scoreboard

Australia 517/7 decl

India 1st innings

M Vijay c Haddin b Johnson 53 

S Dhawan b Harris 25 

C Pujara b Lyon 73 

V Kohli c Harris b Johnson 115 

A Rahane c Watson b Lyon 62 

R Sharma c & b Lyon 43 

W Saha c Watson b Lyon 25 

K Sharma b Siddle 4 

M Shami c Watson b Siddle 34 

I Sharma c Smith b Lyon 0 

V Aaron not out 3 

Extras: (lb 4, w 1, nb 2) 7

Total: (all out in 116.4 overs) 444

FoW: 1-30, 2-111, 3-192, 4-293, 5-367, 6-399, 7-406, 8-422, 9-422, 10-444

Bowling

Mitchell Johnson 22-6-102-2 

Ryan Harris 21-6-55-1

Nathan Lyon 36-4-134-5 

Peter Siddle 18.4-2-88-2 

Mitchell Marsh 11-4-29-0

Shane Watson 5-1-13-0

Steven Smith 3-0-19-0

Australia 2nd innings

C Rogers c Rohit Sharma b 

K Sharma 21

D Warner b K Sharma 102

S Watson b Shami 33

M Clarke c Saha b Aaron 7

S Smith batting 52

M Marshc Vijay b RSharma 40

B Haddin batting 14

Extras: (b 1, lb 6, w 5, nb 9) 21

Total: (for five wkts in 69 overs) 290

FoW: 1-38, 2-140, 3-168, 4-213, 5-266 

Bowling

Mohammed Shami 11-2-42-1 

Ishant Sharma 14-3-41-0 

Karn Sharma 16-2-95-2 

Murali Vijay 6-0-27-0

Varun Aaron 10-0-43-1

Rohit Sharma 12-2-35-1

Warner’s recent knocks

vs India 145 & 102 

vs Pak 19 & 58  

vs Pak 133 & 29 

vs SA 135 & 145 

vs SA 70 & 66

vs SA 12 & 115

Numbers game

5  Warner has   become the fifth player to post a hundred in both innings of a Test match twice in a calendar year. 

6 the number of hundreds Warner has scored this year. He has also completed 1,000 runs this season aggregating 1061 (ave.75.78)