The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia `A' takes first day's honours

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 19, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Australia `A' takes first day's honours

Sydney: India `A' skipper Y. Venugopala Rao was left cursing himself after inserting Australia `A' as opener Phil Jaques slammed an unbeaten 199 that saw the host finish day one of the Top End Cricket Series tie on an imposing 361 for two at the Cazalys Stadium in Cairns on Tuesday.

In a complete mismatch between the ball and the bat, there was no end to the misery of the Indian bowlers who toiled in the middle but met with little success, while Australia `A' is all set to score a huge first innings total.

Opening stand

Jacques and his colleague Chris Rogers (55) milked the Indian `A' attack and raised 171 before Piyush Chawla snared the latter, much to the relief of the visiting camp.

Lanky Bengal pacer Shiv Shankar Paul then induced Mark Cosgrove (1) to edge one to perish caught behind in the very next over but that was the last time the Indians celebrated.

Cosgrove's departure brought in Travis Birt (82 not out) to join Jaques in the middle and the duo consolidated Australia `A's position as it scored runs at will.

Paul finished the day with 13.3-1-48-1, while the figures read 20-2-83-1 for Chawla. Rao used six bowlers, including himself.

Jaques was left stranded one run short of a well-deserved double century after a more than six-hour stay in the middle, during which he faced 284 deliveries and struck19 boundaries.

Birt faced 142 balls for his unbeaten 82, which included nine hits to the fence.

The scores: Australia `A' 361 for 2 (Phil Jaques 199 n.o., Chris Rogers 55, Travis Birt 82 n.o.). — UNI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport