13 June, 2008
Symonds saves the day

Andrew Symonds has saved Australia on the opening day of the third Test against West Indies on a lively Bridgetown wicket.

Symonds struck a half-century to steady the ship for the tourists after the some accurate pace bowling from the home side reduced Australia to 5-111 midway through the day.

The hard-hitting all-rounder enjoyed a pair of lucky breaks on his way to 52 as his side reached 7-226 when rain halted play early in the final session.

Debutant Beau Casson is unbeaten on six while Brett Lee is still there on seven.

Australia's aggressive approach in the morning saw it lose four wickets before lunch, but Symonds came to the crease to restore some order to the innings with gutsy wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (32) after opener Simon Katich (36) became the fifth wicket to fall.

Where careless shots had cost Australia earlier in the day, Symonds displayed some controlled aggression as he crushed one six and added five other boundaries to reach 50 off 78 balls.

The morning had belonged to Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Bravo, who took advantage of Australia's carefree approach to take two wickets apiece.

Phil Jaques was the first to go. He raced to a score of 31 off 35 balls, smashing four fours and one six, but mistimed a pull shot and was caught by Denesh Ramdin as he raced backwards.

Australia captain Ricky Ponting then became Taylor's second victim. He struck two sixes en route to 18 off 19 balls, but was trapped leg before as Taylor's delivery swung back in.

The tourists appeared on course to make a respectable score by lunch but Bravo then struck twice in the final over of the session to put a different complexion on the scorecard.

First Mike Hussey was caught on the boundary by Daren Powell as he tried to clear the fence. Before Australia could add another run, Michael Clarke was out for a duck as he edged behind to Ramdin.

Symonds' saving stand was, as usual, full of excitement and drama.

On seven, he was dropped by Xavier Marshall at second slip.

The Queenslander was then fortunate to survive a caught behind chance on 14.

West Indies v Australia, Third Test, Day One
Australia (1st innings)
P Jaques c Ramdin b Taylor 31
S Katich c Gayle b Edwards 36
R Ponting lbw b Taylor 18
M Hussey c Powell b Bravo 12
M Clarke c Ramdin b Bravo 0
A Symonds c Chattergoon b Bravo 52
B Haddin lbw b Benn 32
B Casson not out 6
B Lee not out 7
Extras (lb 5, w 20, nb 7) 32
Total (7 wickets; 56.4 overs) 226 (3.98 runs per over)
FoW:1-46 (Jaques, 10.2 ov), 2-75 (Ponting, 16.1 ov), 3-96 (Hussey, 22.3 ov), 4-96 (Clarke, 22.6 ov), 5-111 (Katich, 29.1 ov), 6-198 (Haddin, 48.4 ov), 7-213 (Symonds, 52.3 ov).

Bowling
D Powell 11-5-43-0
F Edwards 11-1-47-1
J Taylor 9-1-44-2
C Gayle 7-2-6-0
D Bravo 12.4-4-48-3
S Benn 6-0-33-1