Shillingford dominates day one in Dominica

Cricket365
April 23, 2012

Shane Shillingford's four-wicket haul on his home ground in Dominica put the West Indies on top after day one of the third Test against Australia on Monday.

The offspinner became the first Dominican to play a Test on the island, and celebrated the occasion by claiming 4 for 77 as Australia went to stumps on an underwhelming 212 for seven after winning the toss and electing to bat.

David Warner's streaky 50 was the best Australia could manage as they found runs hard to come by on a hard but dry surface at Warner Park, and it could have been worse for the tourists had the West Indies not spilled a couple of straightforward chances.

Shillingford's menacing bounce proved the key ingredient to West Indian success, as he steamrolled through the strong Australian middle order.

The visitors had lost Ed Cowan in the second over of the match when he was trapped lbw by Ravi Rampaul, but Shane Watson and David Warner guided the tourists through a tricky morning to reach lunch on 69 for one.

That partnership continued in the second session as Warner rode his luck – he was dropped by Darren Sammy early in the day and had several mishits land wide of fielders – and at 84 for one Australia looked comfortable.

However Watson (41) pulled Sammy straight to the fielder in the deep to throw away a strong start, and Warner perished moments after reaching his half-century when he became Shillingford's first victim of the day.

The spinner took confidence from that dismissal and increasingly came into his own, as he removed Ricky Ponting (23) and Michael Clarke (24) – both caught bat and pad just when they looked to be forging a partnership.

That left Australia on a dodgy 157 for five and in need of a rescue act from Michael Hussey, but Shillingford ended those hopes when some extra bounce saw a delivery catch the shoulder of Hussey's bat, giving Sammy a sharp catch to his left at slip.

Ryan Harris did not last long before he gloved a Kemar Roach bouncer through to the wicketkeeper, but Matthew Wade and Mitchell Starc ensured that Australia's innings would extend into a second day.

Wade's obdurate 22 from 72 balls took the visitors through to stumps, while Starc struck a few hefty blows to reach the end of day one on 24 not out.