News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

This article was first published 8 years ago
Rediff.com  » Cricket » Holder blasts 82 but Australia close in on victory in second Test

Holder blasts 82 but Australia close in on victory in second Test

June 14, 2015 09:57 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

Jason Holder

Jason Holder of West Indies hits out. Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Australia surged towards another emphatic victory over West Indies after the third day of the second Test in Jamaica, on Saturday.

Australia captain Michael Clarke's surprisingly early declaration in the final session reaped immediate dividends as West Indies lost two wickets in the first over of their second innings.

Facing a target of 392, they slumped to 16 for two at stumps in Kingston, needing another 376 runs to win.

It seems only rain can save the home team from another heavy defeat after they lost the first Test by nine wickets.

With more than two days left, Australia could have batted for another session at least in their second innings and still left themselves ample time to bowl out the West Indies.

But Clarke boldly declared with Australia at 212 for two wickets in their second innings, having earlier dismissed the hosts for 220 for a first innings lead of 179.

This gave Australia time to bowl eight overs before stumps, and they made a dream start when, in the third ball of the innings, Mitchell Starc bowled Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck.

Brathwaite chopped the ball onto his stumps, but it was a needless wicket to give away because the ball was sailing well wide of off stump and could have been left alone.

Worse followed for West Indies in the final ball of the first over when Starc had Test debutant Rajendra Chandrika caught at gully for another duck.

Chandrika, who slashed at a ball well wide of off stump, became just the second West Indies player to record a duck in both innings.

It could have been even worse for the hosts as Darren Bravo was given out lbw to off-spinner Nathan Lyon, but the decision was reversed when the replay showed the ball would have bounced over the stump.

Bravo (8) survived until stumps with Shane Dowrich (1).

Australia, who won the first match by nine wickets, are seeking to sweep the two-Test series ahead of the Ashes against England, with the first Test in Cardiff less than a month away.

Earlier in the day, all-rounder Jason Holder, batting at number eight, was left stranded on 82 not out in the West Indies first innings.

Holder swatted the four Australian specialist bowlers to all corners of Sabina Park with an aggressive display of lusty hitting more reminiscent of a limited overs game than a test.

His unbeaten score, off only 63 balls, included 12 fours and two sixes and allowed West Indies to avoid the follow on.

Despite the daunting task, Holder has not given up West Indies can turn the game around.

"For me it’s still a good batting pitch," Holder told the host broadcaster. "You need to spend some time to get (settled) in. Once you get in it becomes a lot easier."

"It’s Test cricket. You must expect pressure. We just have to apply ourselves for as long as we can tomorrow."

Scoreboard:

Australia 1st innings: 399 (S. Smith 199; J. Taylor 6-47)

West Indies 1st innings: (Overnight: 143-8)
K. Brathwaite b Lyon 4
R. Chandrika c Haddin b Starc 0
Da. Bravo lbw b Lyon 14
S. Dowrich c Haddin b Hazlewood 13
S. Hope c Haddin b Lyon 26
J. Blackwood c Warner b Hazlewood 51
D. Ramdin lbw b Hazlewood 8
J. Holder not out 82
V. Permaul c Haddin b Johnson 0
K. Roach c Haddin b Hazlewood 7
J. Taylor lbw b Hazlewood 0

Extras (b-6 lb-2 nb-1 w-1 pen-5) 15

Total (all out, 59.5 overs) 220

Fall of wickets: 1-1 R. Chandrika, 2-9 K. Brathwaite, 3-25 Da. Bravo, 4-44 S. Dowrich, 5-77 S. Hope, 6-119 D. Ramdin, 7-142 J. Blackwood, 8-143 V. Permaul, 9-220 K. Roach, 10-220 J. Taylor.

Bowling: M. Starc 14-2-50-1(w-1), J. Hazlewood 15.5-8-38-5, N. Lyon 14-4-55-3, M. Johnson 14-2-54-1(nb-1), S. Watson 2-0-10-0.

Australia 2nd innings:
S. Marsh c Holder b Permaul 69
D. Warner c Ramdin b Roach 62
S. Smith not out 54
M. Clarke not out 14
 
Extras (b-9 lb-4) 13

Total (for 2 wickets declared, 65 overs) 212

Fall of wickets: 1-117 D. Warner, 2-163 S. Marsh.

Did not bat: A. Voges, S. Watson, B. Haddin, M. Johnson, M. Starc, N. Lyon, J. Hazlewood

Bowling: J. Taylor 10-2-24-0, K. Roach 9-2-26-1, V. Permaul 21-3-83-1, J. Holder 10-2-24-0, K. Brathwaite 11-3-23-0, J. Blackwood 4-1-19-0.

West Indies 2nd innings: (Target: 392 runs)
K. Brathwaite b Starc 0
R. Chandrika c S. Marsh b Starc 0
Da. Bravo not out 8
S. Dowrich not out 1

Extras (b-4 lb-2 w-1) 7

Total (for 2 wickets, 8 overs) 16

Fall of wickets: 1-0 K. Brathwaite, 2-1 R. Chandrika.

To bat: S. Hope, J. Blackwood, D. Ramdin, J. Holder, J. Taylor, V. Permaul, K. Roach

Bowling: M. Starc 3-2-1-2, J. Hazlewood 1-1-0-0, N. Lyon 3-2-6-0, M. Johnson 1-0-3-0(w-1).

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2024