Labuschagne hundred underlines chastening first day for WI
West Indies’ two-Take a look at marketing campaign Down Underneath began in chastening style as Marnus Labuschagne unveiled an eighth Take a look at hundred to spearhead Australia’s domination of the opening day of the primary Take a look at Wednesday.
The Caribbean facet was harbouring ideas of a profitable day when quick bowler Jayden Seales eliminated David Warner’s leg stump within the morning’s fourth over, after they had been requested to bowl on a inexperienced prime at Perth Stadium.
However the prolific Labuschagne arrived to stroke a supremely spectacular unbeaten 154 to hold Australia to 293 for 2 on the shut.
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He was supported by left-handed Usman Khawaja with 65 whereas former skipper Steve Smith was unbeaten on 59 not out at stumps.
There was a testing interval for Australia within the closing hour earlier than lunch when quick bowlers Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder, together with medium Kyle Mayers additionally produced probing spells, however Australia weathered the problem to take cost within the day’s remaining classes.
Labuschagne, a 28-year-old right-hander in his twenty ninth Take a look at, confronted 270 deliveries and struck 16 fours and a six, with out providing a lot as a simple probability. He was on the centre of two giant century stands which underpinned the innings. First, he placed on 142 for the second wicket with the left-handed Khawaja whose half-century got here from 149 deliveries and included 5 fours and a six.
Marnus Labuschagne then added an additional 142 in an unbroken third wicket stand with Smith who counted seven fours and confronted 107 balls in his thirty seventh Take a look at fifty.
Bidding for his or her first Take a look at win in almost twenty years in Australia, West Indies made a disciplined begin and had been then rewarded when the 21-year-old Seales acquired veteran left-hander Warner (5) to pull on a large ball, the supply after he had pulled the right-armer to the sq. boundary.
However any hopes West Indies had of creating additional inroads had been dashed as Labuschagne and Khawaja carried Australia to lunch on 72 for one. There have been no breakthroughs afterwards both, the pair preserving West Indies with out success till 4 overs earlier than the tea break when Khawaja succumbed to the persistent Mayers, nicking a magnificence behind for wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva to finish the catch.
On 162 for 2 at tea with Labuschagne on 81, Australia dominated the ultimate session as West Indies misplaced the self-discipline that had earlier characterised their efforts.
Runs flowed freely, the Aussies gathering 131 runs from 33 overs – greater than in any of the 2 earlier classes – transferring previous the 200-run mark as West Indies wilted.
Marnus Labuschagne was first to his landmark, dispatching an extended hop from Seales to the sq. boundary about three-quarters of an hour after the resumption, whereas Smith raised his fifty with a single to deep cowl off ineffective off-spinner Roston Chase within the fourth over following the ultimate drinks break.
West Indies got here closest to eradicating Labuschagne on 137 when he minimize Seales uppishly to deep level the place debutant Tagenarine Chanderpaul simply failed to achieve the catch, however the Queenslander remained regular to convey up his 150 within the third over earlier than the shut.
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