ADELAIDE: Opener David Warner extended his purple patch with the bat by cracking his second century of the match as the first cricket Test against India headed for an exciting finish with Australia gaining an overall lead of 363 runs here in Adelaide today.
At stumps on the fourth day at Adelaide Oval, Australia were 290 for five with Steven Smith and Brad Haddin batting on 52 and 14 respectively. The hosts may declare the innings early tomorrow leaving India with the task of batting out the fifth day to save the match. In the morning session, spinner Nathan Lyon took his sixth five-wicket haul in Test cricket as India collapsed to be bowled out for 444 runs in their first innings after resuming at 369 for five.
The 28-year-old Warner then followed up his first innings hundred with another ton in the second, giving Australia command of proceedings. Warner made 102 off 166 balls and his knock was studded with 11 fours and a six.
Warner, who had crossed the 1000-run landmark in the calendar year before lunch, consolidated Australia’s position by adding 102 runs for the second wicket with Shane Watson (33), who was bowled by Mohammed Shami.
Warner also provided some spice to the day’s proceedings when he got involved in an altercation with Varun Aaron as the batsman was called back by the umpire after being bowled off a no-ball by the Indian pacer.
Tempers flared up as a result with Aaron, Warner, Shane Watson and Shikhar Dhawan getting involved, and the umpires had to step in to resolve the situation.
Even as Warner left the incident behind to score his 11th Test hundred, skipper Michael Clarke, who had battled back pain to himself score a century in the first innings, did not last long in the team’s second essay though as he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha off Varun Aaron.
However, the wicket that India desperately wanted to have in their bag came when Warner was bowled while trying to reverse sweep debutant leg-spinner Karn Sharma.
The big scalp though did not peg Australia back as the hosts continued to score quick runs with another first-innings centurion Smith and Mitchell Marsh (40) dominating the Indian attack.
Marsh smashed four boundaries and three sixes during his entertaining innings that came off just 26 balls. Smith struck five fours in his unbeaten knock.
Australia 1st innings 517/7 dec
India 1st innings
M Vijay c †Haddin b Johnson 53
S Dhawan b Harris 25
CA Pujara b Lyon 73
V Kohli* c Harris b Johnson 115
AM Rahane c Watson b Lyon 62
RG Sharma c & b Lyon 43
WP Saha† c Watson b Lyon 25
KV Sharma b Siddle 4
Mohammed Shami c Watson b Siddle 34
Ishant c Smith b Lyon 0
VR Aaron not out 3
Extras 7
Total 444/10
Australia 2nd innings
CJL Rogers c RG Sharma b KV Sharma 21
DA Warner b KV Sharma 102
SR Watson b Mohammed Shami 33
MJ Clarke* c †Saha b Aaron 7
SPD Smith not out 52
MR Marsh c Vijay b RG Sharma 40
BJ Haddin† not out 14
Extras 21
Total 290/5
