da supremo： Adelaide-Australia met their first genuine challenge of the series withtypical, bloody-minded efficiency on the third day of the third Test yesterdaybut West Indian perseverance prevented them making the most of severalfavourable positions
Tony Cozier18-Dec-2000Adelaide-Australia met their first genuine challenge of the series withtypical, bloody-minded efficiency on the third day of the third Test yesterdaybut West Indian perseverance prevented them making the most of severalfavourable positions.Ricky Ponting shared successive, untroubled partnerships of 123 with Mark Waughand 59 with Damien Martyn that carried Australia to within 22 of the Larainspired West Indies total of 391 with five wickets in tact.A match-winning lead loomed but once the venerable Courtney Walsh produced oneof his specials to remove Ponting to a keeper’s catch for 92, his lesseraccomplices, Merv Dillon and Nixon McLean, followed the lead with the next threewickets for 12 runs.When the first rain in Adelaide for 38 days brought the day to a gloomy andpremature end, under the floodlights that had been switched on the ball beforePonting’s dismissal, the contest was dead even.As another 12 overs remained, it was welcome reprieve for the West Indies fromthe probablity of a few difficult overs in artificial light. As it stood,Australia held a marginal lead at 403 for nine with the prospect of dealing nexttime round with a dry, last day pitch already zig-zagged with widening cracks.The result would be determined by which team coped with the pressure and theconditions better from here on.On both counts, that would be Australia as the contrasting records of the twoclearly confirm. But Brian Lara’s sudden and spectacular return to form, withhis 231 against Australia “A” and 182 in the first innings in the past week, isthe critical variable in the equation.The evidence of the first three days indicated a renewed spirit in the WestIndies team, clearly inspired by Lara’s brilliance.It was in danger of dsintegrating on the previous afternoon when Michael Slaterand Matthew Hayden collared rubbish bowling in an opening partnership of 159before a fortunate run out and two late wickets to the speculative off-spin ofthe 19-year-old debutant Marlon Samuels restored confidence.Until the last hour yesterday, the West Indies pegged away to defensive fieldsfor the reward of only two wickets as Australia built their total. They neverlost their focus, inspite of the growing total and three incidents in the firstsession that might have distracted them.Ponting was 10 when McLean’s authentic lbw claim was negated by a no-ball. Theubiquitous television “snickometer” hinted that Waugh had touched a catch to thekeeper off Samuels at 39 but umpire Steve Davis seemed to have been put off byJacobs’ simultaneous claim to square-leg for a stumping.The clearest chance came two overs before lunch when Ponting, 41, edged a driveat the persistent Dillon.It flew to Lara’s left at solitary slip and the batting champion let the twohanded catch go to grass that would have made Australia 260 for five.By then, their only success was the nightwatchman Jason Gillespie, lbw to Walshafter 20 minutes. It was two-and-a-half hours before they gained another, justwhen Australia had laid the foundations of a massive score.Waugh, playing tentatively from the crease, was lbw for a laboured 63 (threehours, 20 minutes, 142 balls) in the eighth over with the second new ball duringan outstanding spell of stamina and accuracy by Merv Dillon.Severely punished for his waywardness by Slater on the previous afternoon,Dillon improved to the extent that he sent down 17 consecutive overs, brokenonly by lunch and a break for 10 minutes to rain. They cost him only 46 and hadthe satisfying return of Waugh’s wicket.Damien Martyn appeared next, where Steve Waugh normally would, and played withas much aplomb as the absent, injured captain to consolidate Australia’spowerful position.But the West Indies would not yield, as they had done so frequently in the firsttwo Tests. Only Marlon Black of the four fast bowlers did not exert control,stymied by his inexperience and the lack of pace in the pitch.It took a quality delivery from Walsh to dislodge Ponting eight short of hiseighth Test hundred 25 minutes after tea. He had been in three hours, 52 minutesand 156 balls when he got one that straightened and lifted to find the edge onits way to Jacobs.It was the last of Walsh for the day. McLean replaced him and promptly accountedfor stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist and Colin Miller to cut shots, the former tothe keeper, the latter to point.Dillon completed a satisfying personal day by persuading umpire Davis that hisbouncer had taken Stuart MacGill’s glove, rather than helmet, on the way throughto the keeper.