Date:24/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/24/stories/2008052460642100.htm

Sport

Ponting surpasses Gavaskar’s record

Scores his fourth hundred in a row in the Caribbean

— Photo: AP

In control: Ricky Ponting was in his element as he notched up his 35th Test century.

Kingston: Australia captain Ricky Ponting strode majestically to his 35th Test hundred to help his side recover from a shaky start in the opening Test against West Indies on Thursday.

This is Ponting’s fourth hundred in a row in the Caribbean, and his seventh against West Indies. It carried him past former India captain Sunil Gavaskar’s 34 on the list of batsmen with the most hundreds in Tests. Another Indian batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar holds the record of 39.

On Friday, three wickets, two to Darren Sammy, and purposeful bowling from West Indies slowed Australia down before lunch. Australia had reached 372 for seven with Andrew Symonds not out on 18 and Brett Lee not out on four.

Pressure

Australia resuming at 301 for four, looked to mount a formidable first innings total, but the West Indies’ bowlers, making full use of the hard, uneven Sabina Park pitch, shattered the visitors’ plans with accurate bowling.

The pressure mounted and Brad Hodge cracked, when he tried to guide a delivery from Fidel Edwards to third man and was caught behind for 67.

Australia was so hemmed-in by the miserly bowling that it could only add 24 runs in close to an hour in between the time that Hodge and Mitchell Johnson were dismissed.

Johnson, who entered about a quarter of an hour before the close on the previous evening in the role of night-watchman, spent another one-and-a-quarter hours at the crease before Sammy made the breakthrough, when he was caught at mid-on for 22 driving at a slower delivery.

With lunch approaching, and the shackles still very tight, Brad Haddin, playing his first innings as Australia’s 400th Test player, essayed a pull off the back-foot to a short delivery from Sammy got an under edge, and was caught behind for 11.

Edwards has been the most successful West Indies bowler with the three wickets for 78 runs from 20 overs, and Sammy has supported him with two for 56 from 24 overs. — Agencies