Smith Dream run with bat continues
BY EHSAN KHAN(PAKISTAN)
On 1st day of 2nd test match with West Indies with 1 – nil down in the series, West Indian Captain Dinesh Ramdin won the toss & decided to ball with little bit grass on the wicket. With Australian’s are playing with the same winning combination who out classed Caribbean boys in last game. West Indies were bound to make some changes as three of their key players Marlon Samules, Davendra Bishoo & Shanon Gabriel nursing their injuries providing chance to V Permaul, Roach & debutant R Chandrika.
Jerome Taylor made the most of the grass on the wicket by removing David Warner in 1st over for 0 & followed it with wicket of Shaun Marsh before conceding a run in his opening spell. At one end Taylor was bowling exceptionally well with his figures of two wickets without conceding a run, other side comeback man Roach was leaking runs. Roach also provide life to Australian captain Michael Clarke when he got the wicket of Clarke but reply showing his foot just crossed over the bowling crease.
Smith & Clarke featured in a 118 run partnership in which Smith was the main contributor & also reached his fifty during this recovery process. Clarke fell just 3 runs short of test fifty when he edged Jason Holder to Dinesh Ramdin. Last inning centurion Adam Voges joins Smith at the wicket with some rebuilding to do. Smith completed his 5th test hundred in last 6 test matches when he hit Peramaul for his 13th boundary of the innings. It was again Taylor who provided the breakthrough when he got the wicket of Adam Voges for 37 runs leaving Australia 210 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Shane Watson & Smith safely played the remainng overs saving the day for Australia which starts disastrously. Smith 135 not out runs Watson 20 not out will start the proceedings on 2nd day at 258 for the loss of 4 wickets.
Stand out bowler for the West Indies is their pace man Jerome Taylor who ended the day with 3 wickets at the expense of just 18 runs in his 15 overs. West Indies need some quick wickets including that of Smith to have their say in this match.