1 June, 2008
Brilliant bats do the job

Australia's batsmen have put the tourists in a strong position at the close of play on day two against the West Indies in Antigua.

Michael Clarke hit a century to guide Australia to an imposing 479 first-innings total and then claimed two wickets to give the hosts a mountain to climb.

West Indies finished the day 3-125, having lost opener Devon Smith in the 10th over and Xavier Marshall (53) and Runako Morton (two) in quick succession to trail by 354 runs at the close of play.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (32) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul (five) remain unbeaten at the crease overnight and will be required to significantly build on their partnership if the Windies are to avoid going 2-0 down in the series, with one Test remaining.

Clarke was earlier in sparkling form with the bat and led the tourists to a declaration on 7-479 at tea.

Simon Katich (113) failed to add to his overnight total and was back in the dressing room in the third over of the day, but Clarke and Brett Lee, who chipped in with 65 not out in the second session, put Australia firmly in the ascendency.

With Australia starting the day on 3-259, West Indies made an early breakthrough when Katich was caught behind off Jerome Taylor, but any joy at the early wicket was tempered by Clarke's exquisite strokeplay.

He picked up where he left off and reached his second consecutive Test century with a superb on-drive to the boundary off Daren Powell.

Andrew Symonds added 18 off 19 balls before tickling Fidel Edwards down the leg side into the gloves of Denesh Ramdin before lunch.

Brad Haddin (33) formed a 64-run partnership with Clarke but was dismissed with the third ball after lunch when he was fooled by Taylor's slower ball and chipped up to Morton for a simple catch at mid-on.

Clarke eventually fell to Powell attempting a pull which top-edged to Marshall at mid-wicket, but Lee continued to rack up the runs and brought up Australia's 400 by cutting Powell's long-hop for four.

He and Mitchell Johnson were fortunate the Windies' fielding was below par, as the pair were both dropped by Edwards and Dwayne Bravo respectively, with Darren Sammy the unlucky bowler.

Lee reached his 50 with an entertaining slog for six before Australia confirmed their declaration during the interval.

In reply, Smith made little impact before he flayed at a short, wide Mitchell Johnson delivery and was sharply caught by Symonds at mid-on.
Marshall enjoyed more success and hit eight fours in his 69-ball innings but had a lapse in concentration when he left a Clarke delivery, only for the ball to hit him flush on the back pad in line with middle stump.

The Windies needed Morton to steady the ship but he was dismissed in the same over attempting to smash one over midwicket but succeeding only in thick-edging to Katich at short midwicket.

Australia 1st innings
Jacques lbw b Bravo 17
Katich c Ramdin b Taylor 113
Ponting c Marshall b Taylor 65
Hussey c Chanderpaul b Sammy 10
Clarke c Marshall b Powell 110
Symonds c Ramdin b Edwards 18
Haddin c Morton b Taylor 33
Lee not out 63
Johnson not out 29
Extras 21 (lb 7, w 5, nb 9)
Total 479 (7 wickets (Dec); 136 overs)
FoW: 1-36 (Jaques, 14.3 ov), 2-172 (Ponting, 52.6 ov), 3-199 (Hussey, 65.2 ov), 4-271 (Katich, 84.5 ov), 5-296 (Symonds, 91.3 ov), 6-360 (Haddin, 109.3 ov), 7-414 (Clarke, 126.5 ov)

Bowling
Powell 29-3-101-1 (2nb)
Edwards 28-6-98-1 (1nb)
Taylor 27-5-95-3 (4nb, 1w)
Bravo 24-4-80-1 (2nb)
Sammy 21-2-71-1
Sarwan 7-0-27-0


West Indies 1st innings
Smith c Symonds b Johnson 16
Marshall lbw b Clarke 53
Sarwan not out 32
Morton c Katich b Clarke 2
Chanderpaul not out 5
Extras 17 (b 7, lb 8, w 1, nb 1)
Total 125 (3 wickets; 35 overs)
FoW: 1-55 (Smith, 9.2 ov), 2-103 (Marshall, 26.1 ov), 3-105 (Morton, 26.6 ov)

Bowling
Lee 7-4-20-0 (1nb, 1w)
Johnson 8-1-33-1
Clark 6-0-19-0
MacGill 7-0-31-0
Clarke 7-4-7-2