Australia's command in the series grew leaps and bounds on the first day of the day-night Test in Adelaide on Thursday as they took full advantage of the flat pitch on offer to set a big score of 330/3. The West Indian bowlers seemed to hardly have a clue against the in-control Kangaroos, and their problems were further compounded early in the day when debutant Marquino Mindley walked off the field after bowling just two overs due to discomfort in his hamstring.
The Caribbeans did get off to a good start though, getting the prized wicket of David Warner for 21 as he found the outside edge while trying to drive a wide delivery off Alzarri Joseph. However, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne immediately established stability with disciplined batting, as the former reached the 1,000-run landmark in Tests for the year. The opener eventually fell for 62 off an inswinger by part-time medium pacer Devon Thomas, with the DRS review revealing the ball only went on to hit his leg stump by a whisker.
The Kangaroos received a further shock when the previous match's double-centurion Steve Smith succumbed to a soft dismissal, driving a fullish delivery straight into bowler Jason Holder's hand and departing for a duck. Just when it seemed like West Indies would finally take over the game with the score reading 131/3, skipper Kraigg Brathwaite's decision to take the ball alongside fellow spinner Roston Chase proved to be a blunder as it allowed Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne to counter-attack and retake the momentum ahead of the end of the second session.
Thereon, the duo simply dominated proceedings, putting away loose balls with ease to remain unbeaten with a partnership of 199. While Labuschagne became only the third player in Test history to score consecutive centuries after hitting a double hundred as well as joined a rare list of players with two Test century hattricks, Head scored his fifth Test century and the first in his home ground Adelaide. The new ball taken in the 80th over only helped accelerate the scoring and at stumps on day one, Marnus remained not-out on 120(135) while Head fights on at 114(139).
Great sight!
Good to see WI bowling 89 overs of the day...
— ABS (@AbhiBSarda)
Hahahaha! LOL xD xD
Cam Green when Australia bat.
— BṞÅḎ (@bradfogarty101)
Hope is for no real now!
Can’t see West Indies getting back into this test
— Doley (@berniedole)
Gready day at office!
Stumps on Day 1 has Australia 3/330 with 120* & 114*. Usman scored 62.
— Cricket Australia Fan (@CricketAustFan)
Hmmmmmm. :|
New pink ball only 7 overs old and we are finishing with spin from both ends 🧐🤨🤔
— Cameron Douglas (@Cam_Dougie)
Sit back & enjoy highlights!
My damn phone was updating!
— BṞÅḎ (@bradfogarty101)
Well batted Trav 👏🏻
Sheer dominance!
Man in red hot form.🔥
— NIHAR293⚡ (@patelnihar293)
Someone please pickup the call!
Why the fuck do they still keep bowling wide outside off stump to Travis Head. Actually make him play a different shot.
— St_vince (@st_vince)
Labu be like: Jukhega nai...
is Marnuss koi Roko bhai 🧐
— jUnAiD🇵🇰 (@jUnAiD___56)
May be!
Only Shaheen can stop him these days 😏🙄
— Abdullah Suلtan 🇵🇰 (@ImAbdullaha56)
3rd consecutive hundred for ♥️👏
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