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Day 2: Windies take charge

Tony Becca

The Sunday crowd which ignored the temptation to stay away and turned up at Sabina Park yesterday to rally 'round the West Indies in their fight for survival against Australia in the second Test of the Cable and Wireless series went home happy and with hope in their breasts.

The fans went away at the end of the second day beaming with happiness because they were on hand to see Brian Lara in all his glory and because they witnessed a record-breaking fifth-wicket partnership between Lara and James Adams; and they were full of hope because the West Indies, their side, replying to Australia's first innings of 256, were sailing along on 377 for four, and with a lead of 121, with six wickets in hand, with Lara not out on a magnificent 212, and with James Adams not out on a splendid 88, the mighty Australia were on the run after toiling all day without even the satisfaction of a wicket.

In a glorious display, Lara and Adams, coming together at 56 for four, posted an unbroken 321 in 81 overs for the fifth wicket to surpass Rohan Kanhai and Maurice Foster's 210 at Sabina Park in 1973 as the West Indies best against Australia, and also Gary Sobers and Seymour Nurse's 265 against England at Headingley in 1966 as the best against anyone.

Resuming on 37 for four and on the ropes after a demoralising start to their innings, the West Indies, the team which crashed for 51 in the second innings of the first Test at Queen's Park Oval, the team which, in 10 innings in South Africa and two in the first match of this series, failed to bat out a day, batted for all 90 overs without losing a wicket as they skilfully fought their way off the ropes and then dominated the action to the delight of their screaming fans.

Pedro Collins, who went in on the first day as night watchman with Australia on the warpath and batted undefeated until he was hit in the groin by pacer Jason Gillespie and was forced to retire hurt at 56 for four after stroking two boundaries to long-on off Gillespie, and Adams, who, in his old style, mixed rock-solid defence with some elegant strokes, contributed to the wonderful, heart-warming recovery and deserved high praise for their efforts.

The architect, however, was captain Lara, the world record holder who, resuming on seven and leading from the front in one of the finest performances of his illustrious career, frustrated Australia with careful play before, on the way to winning friends and once again becoming the darling of Jamaica, destroying the tourists with a volley of brilliant strokes - the most dazzling coming in the session between lunch and tea when he blasted 67 as the Windies eased from 106 for four off 42 overs at lunch to 227 for four off 68 overs, and in the final session when the tourists, in desperation, called for the second new ball and he responded with a breath-taking 99 runs as the former world champions preened themselves with 150 runs off 37 overs.

In chalking up the third double century of his career and the second against Australia, his first century since his 115 versus Sri Lanka at Arnos Vale in 1997, his third against Australia, and the 11th against all comers, Lara has so far batted for 462 minutes, faced 340 deliveries, and smashed and stroked three sixes and 29 fours in a performance during which the best of Australia - pacers Glen McGrath and Gillespie, right-arm legspinners Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill were treated with contempt.

After spending one hour denying Australia the wicket which they wanted in an effort to turn the screws on the West Indies, Lara hinted that he was ready to take charge when he hooked McGrath to the mid-wicket boundary.

From there on, but for a chance at 44 when he slashed at McGrath and Mark Waugh, going to his left at second slip, failed to hold the catch, it was batting at his most scintillating, and the vaunted Aussie attack was put to the sword.

Gillespie, on two occasions, was driven off the backfoot to the cover boundary, McGrath, armed with the second new ball, was punished with beautiful onside strokes, and as he raced into the 190s, medium-pacer Greg Blewett, in one over, was picked off for boundaries to mid-wicket, backward point, long-off, and long-on, and the crowd loved it.

The best of the left-hander, however, was against Warne and MacGill as he chipped and drove on both sides of the wicket, went back and pulled mid-wicket and wide long-on, and swept those deliveries which deserved such treatment.

In one over from Warne, who finished with none for 78 off 23 overs, he went back and pulled to the mid-wicket boundary before dancing down the pitch and smashing the next delivery over wide long-on; and in another, he swept and then drove straight.

In one over from MacGill, none for 78 off 18 overs, he drove to wide long-off, pulled to midwicket, and drove past point as he stepped into the 90s; and in another; just before captain Steve Waugh, summoned for the second new ball at 287 for four after 80 overs, he chipped and blasted two sixes in a row - one over wide long-on, one over midwicket.

Adams, 12 runs away from his first century against Australia and the sixth of his career, has so far batted for 364 minutes, faced 225 deliveries, and stroked eight boundaries, and although, in terms of brilliance, he was no match for Lara and sensibly did not attempt to, he was a perfect foil for his captain, and he also reeled off some lovely strokes - including the frontfoot extra-cover drive for three of Warne which brought up the 200 partnership, a perfectly-timed hook when Gillespie tested him with a bouncer, and late in the day, a flowing drive to wide long-off off Warne.

He was also one of the reasons why the Sunday crowd went home, not only hoarse after cheering all day, but believing that after six losses in a row, victory is possible.

Day 2 More

Lara sizzles at Sabina

WI captain finds form, hits double century; Adams supports with 88

West Indies captain Brian Lara slammed a brilliant, unbeaten, double century and vice captain Jimmy Adams compiled a solid 88 as the West Indies dominated Australia on yesterday's second day of the second Cable and Wireless Test at Sabina Park.

On a glorious, record-breaking day which saw West Indian batsmanship arise from its slumber, Lara savaged the Australian attack to reach 212 not out as the West Indies ended on 377 for four in reply to Australia's first innings total of 256.

Lara, resuming on his overnight seven, along with night watchman Pedro Collins with his team on 37 for four, dominated proceedings for the entire day.

The Trinidadian left-hander not only recorded his 11th Test century, which was his first since June of 1997 in St. Vincent against Sri Lanka when he scored 115, but also passed 5,000 runs in Test cricket.

It was the third time in his 61 Tests that Lara has scored over 200 runs.

The only blemish during his innings came in the third over after lunch, the 45th of the innings, when he was dropped at second slip by Mark Waugh off the bowling of Glen McGrath.

Otherwise, he flayed the Australian attack as captain Steve Waugh used six bowlers on a day when the West Indies had the distinction of batting the entire three sessions without losing a solitary wicket for the first time since 1955. Then, also against Australia, captain Denis Atkinson (219) and Clairmont Depeiza (122), featured in a record 347-run stand for the seventh wicket at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Attacked all bowlers

While Lara attacked all of the bowlers, he was particularly severe on leg-spinner Stuart McGill and medium pacer Greg Blewett. In one over from MacGill, he hit him for 15 runs, including two consecutive sixes. On 183, Lara moved to 199 with four fours off a hapless Blewett.

Umpire Steve Bucknor had to consult the third umpire to judge a run out decision with Lara on 99. He played a ball on the onside and set off for a single.

Langer picked up and threw the wicket down. The crowd invaded and it was only after a 10-minute delay that the green light was given. Lara's 100 was scored in 281 minutes and came off 195 balls. It was adorned with 14 fours and one six.

Collins supported his captain well for the first 40 minutes of play before he was hit in the groin area and had to retire hurt on 10 at 56-4.

Adams then made his way to the crease and proved the perfect foil for Lara. Adams, in typical fashion, defended his wicket, taking the singles thereby allowing Lara to get most of the strike.

The partnership of the captain and the vice-captain has so far realised 321 runs, a West Indian record for the fifth wicket against all teams. The previous record was held by Sir Garfield Sobers and Seymour Nurse, who scored 265 in 1966 against England at Headingly.

Adams reached his 50 in 208 minutes off 124 balls and included three fours.

Day 3: Windies set for big win

Tony Becca

The West Indies, led by newcomer Nehemiah Perry and well supported by veteran pacers Courtney Walsh and Curtley Ambrose, ended the third day of the second Test against Australia at Sabina Park yesterday within sight of victory.

At stumps on a day which saw 14 wickets falling for 211 runs - a stark contrast to the previous day when none fell for 340, the scoreboard read, Australia 256 and 157 for eight, the West Indies 431, and with the tourists still 18 runs in arrears with only two wickets in hand, the betting, despite the glorious uncertainty of the game, is on the home team to win the match and level the Cable and Wireless series for the Frank Worrell Trophy at one-one.

With the memory of the first Test when Jason Gillespie and Glen McGrath posted 66 for the last wicket, Australia, winners of the first Test by 312 runs, may still be hoping - especially as one confident Aussie reminded, the West Indies were routed for 51 in the second innings of that Test and will be batting last on a pitch which captain Steve Waugh predicted on the eve of the match would turn square on the fourth and fifth days.

Chances are, however, there will be no fifth day - probably not even much of the fourth; chances are the West Indies, even if they have to bat again, will not need as many as 51 to win the match.

Resuming at 377 for four, with Brian Lara on 212 and James Adams on 88, the West Indies lost their remaining six wickets for the addition of 54 runs in 121 minutes and 27.3 overs with Glen McGrath, after removing both Lara and Adams, finishing with five for 93 off 35 overs to add to his 10-wicket haul in the first Test.

After his glorious display on the previous day, Lara added only run before, in the morning's second over, he eased forward to McGrath and edged the pacer to wicketkeeper Ian Healy at 378 for five.

Nine overs later, Adams, also playing forward, also edged McGrath, this time to Mark Elliott at gully and was gone for 94 at 398 for six.

Left with a deficit of 175 runs, Australia were under fire from the opening over when, without a run on the board, left-hander Mark Elliott, on the backfoot, edged Ambrose and Dave Joseph at second slip failed to take the catch.

It was four for one in the second over, however, when Michael Slater, attempting to steer the ball past gully, was bowled off the inside edge for zero.

The man who did the damage, however, was Perry who defeated the batsmen with subtle variation of length and line, flight and degree of spin, and good control.

Twirling his offspinners for 21 consecutive overs from the south, Perry, who finished with four for 61 off 22.2 overs, sent Australia sinking to 63 for four with three quick wickets, and in the day's final over, took care for their last real hope when he removed Greg Blewett for 30.

The first of his victims was Elliott for 16 at 36 for two - the batsman going back to cut and falling leg before wicket as the ball, coming in with the arm, failed to spin away as expected.

The second was Justin Langer for 24 at 51 for three - the batsman going onto the backfoot and edging a catch to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs as the ball popped uncomfortably; and the third was Steve Waugh for nine at 63 for four - the Aussie captain, after two lovely drives through extra-cover, sweeping and gloving a catch to Jacobs.

Ambrose made it 86 for five when Mark Waugh, on 21, hooked straight to Walsh at long-leg, and when Ian Healy going for a second run, was runout for 10 at 106 for six by Pedro Collins from backward point, the innings was in ruins.

It was 137 for seven when Walsh, steaming in from the south after replacing Perry took care of the stubborn Shane Warne for 23 - the ball, a nasty kicker, bouncing off the batsman's glove to Joseph at second slip.

In the final over, Perry left Australia on the floor when Blewett, playing forward to a delivery which did not spin as much as expected, edged to a delighted Lara at slip.

Day 4: Sweet victory for Windies

Tony Becca

Final score: Australia 256 and 177, West Indies 431 and three without loss.

The West Indies levelled the count in the four-match Cable and Wireless series for the Frank Worrell Trophy at one-one with an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Australia in the second Test at Sabina Park yesterday.

In winning the scheduled five-day contest with two days less 40 minutes to spare, the West Indies, beaten by 312 after lunch on the fourth day of the first Test at Queen's Park Oval, not only enjoyed sweet revenge in a tit-for-tat performance, but after losing all five matches to South Africa and the first of this series, also snapped a six-match losing streak.

``We are elated. This victory is very special,'' said a happy Brian Lara - the captain who, throughout the string of defeats, always said the batsmen needed to perform, and who, in leading from the front, set the stage for the memorable victory with a scintillating, unforgettable double-century of 213.

Lara's ecstasy was shared by the fans, including a small army of schoolboys, who raced across the ground, gathered in front of the players' pavilion, and with the sounds of Bob Marley's ``Redemption Song'', floating across the ground from the Red Stripe Mound, cheered the heroes of a team which, in a grand performance, recovered from 34 for four in their first innings to tick off a decisive victory over the world's top-ranked team.

The heroes were Lara and James Adams (94) who staged the recovery with a West Indies best fifth-wicket partnership of 322, Courtney Walsh, who took seven wickets to carry his tally to 411 and to move to within 23 of Kapil Dev's world record of 434, and Nehemiah Perry who, in an impressive display of offspin bowling, celebrated his Test debut with five wickets for 70 runs off 26 overs in the second innings.

Going into the day's play on 157 for eight and needing 18 runs to avoid the indignity of an innings defeat, Australia's only hope was rain and they must have smiled a bit during the night when it came tumbling down in the city - especially if they remembered 1990 (versus England) and 1991 (versus Australia) when, because of rain, there was no play on the fourth day of the Test matches at Sabina Park.

Although the loss of one day would not have made a difference and would only have prolonged the agony - as was the case in 1990 when the West Indies, after a huge first innings deficit, ended the third day only 29 runs ahead with only two wickets in hand and lost by nine wickets, Australia had no such luck.

There was no reprieve. The overnight rain was not enough to even delay the start of play, and the match was over in 40 minutes as the Windies wrapped it up in style.

Walsh, bowling from the south, took care of Jason Gillespie at 159 for nine in his second over - the batsman, attempting to fend off a short-pitched delivery to his rib cage, offering a legside catch to wicketkeeper Ridley Jacobs off the shoulder of the bat and after Glenn McGrath had driven him to the long-off boundary to erase the deficit, Perry, in the same over, ended the innings when Stuart MacGill attempted a sweep and was caught by Dave Joseph at leg slip.

Left with the formality of scoring three runs for victory, the West Indies ended the proceedings in three deliveries with Sherwin Campbell clipping the first delivery from McGrath to fine-leg for a single and Suruj Ragoonath stroking the third past mid-on for the winning runs.