Australia v. Bangladesh - Test Series

[Donny]

Slow going this morning. Langer (60) and Lehmann (75) have moved on to a 124 partnership.

Australia are 2/167.

[Donny]

Langer just went, lbw, for 71.

The partnership was 141.

Enter Steve Waugh.

[Donny]

At lunch, Australia are 3/204 with Lehmann on 94.

[Donny]

Darren Lehmann becomes the first Australian (and first Test cricketer) to score a century in Darwin and the first Aussie to score one against Bangladesh.

3/224 with Waugh on 14.

[Donny]

Lehmann's intentions were clear after he reached 3 figures but he was caught at a deepish covers from a skied slog.

He made 110 and Australia are 4/243, a lead of 146.

Martin Love just became the first batsman to score a golden duck in a Test at Darwin.

Mortaza now has 3/34 from 17 overs. 5/244.

[Donny]

Gilly went for 43 from 47 balls and Waugh just brought up his 50. The score is 6/315. The lead is 218.

The commentators are talking about a tea time declaration with a lead of 220-230. The way Waugh and Lee went about the last over before tea suggests that may well be on.

They hit 16 from it, first Bing putting one into the crowd over mid wicket then Tugger smacked one from the last ball. He's 64 n.o.

At tea, the score is 6/336 and the lead is 239.

[Donny]

No, they're batting on.

For those interested in Waugh's average, it is 50.14 as things stand. He will need at least 85 to keep it above 50 if he's dismissed.

Go, Stevie. Only 36 more for a century against every Test nation.

[Donny]

Lee was run out for 23 and Waugh is on 90. 7/380.

[Donny]

7/404 with Waugh on 98.

Dizzy faces. Leg bye single. Tugga on strike.

Driven. Fielded by the bowler.

Forward defence. Dot.

Square drive. Fielded. Dot.

Hit to mid off. Missfield. 2 runs. Century. Declaration.

Well done, Stevie !! 31st. Test century. Only 133 balls.

The lead is 310.

[HAL]

What am I testing?

[Donny]

Before anyone dives in to denegrate the two centuries because 'it was only Bangladesh', bear in mind Hayden, Ponting and Love scored 21 between them.

Lehmann's was a real gutsy effort and Waugh's was quick - just as it should've been. Well played, boys.

[JLC]

Waugh did what he does best and that is make runs. Havn't bothered to watch any of the match as i think the series is a farce.

To me its like a crap NBL team going to America and playing against the Spurs or Lakers or like an NSL team going to Spain and playing against Real Madrid......lol In boxing you cant go up against the heavy weight champion in your first fight. You work your way up through the rankings and earn a shot against the champion.

Lambs to the slaughter and they havnt earned the right to play Australia. I would much rather see Bangladesh play against some of the weaker test nations and win some test matches and then they would be worthy of playing against Australia.

jlc

[Donny]

Well, JLC, these 'lambs' played some pretty good cricket, today. Maybe you SHOULD be watching. They stuck to their guns at a time when other Test teams would've been carted all over the park.

At stumps, they are 1/70 with Sarkar on 29 and Bashar, 26. They hit Lee out of the attack, taking 26 from 4 overs. They also hit Dizzy for 20 from 5.

[Donny]

Hundreds for Waugh and Lehmann as Australia take charge
Wisden Bulletin by Lynn McConnell - July 19, 2003

Any kernel of hope is an achievement for Bangladesh in their first Test against Australia, and while they are still odds on to lose this game heavily tomorrow, it won't be their worst defeat and it won't be added to the list of two-day losses like so many had predicted.

Following Steve Waugh's declaration midway through the last session, Bangladesh started their chase 310 runs behind. That number might have brought back the nightmares of their worst Test defeat - West Indies drubbed them by an innings and 310 runs at Dhaka earlier this year - but Bangladesh made a spirited reply. Despite Javed Omar's loss, for 5 off the last ball of Glenn McGrath's second over, Hannan Sarkar and Habibul Bashar did their version of going for 'Sydney or the Bush' by reaping 62 runs for the second wicket. Incredibly, Sarkar and Bashar scored at 4.67 runs per over in Bangladesh's second innings, far higher than Australia's rate in their first innings.

Australia hold all the cards, however. Yesterday, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie became the country's most successful opening-bowling combination when they took their 244th wicket to surpass the duo of Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall.

Today, Steve Waugh, who is a cast-iron certainty to become Test cricket's most successful captain with his 37th victory some time tomorrow, became the second player, after South Africa's Gary Kirsten, to score centuries against all nine Test-playing nations. His 100 not out, off 133 balls in 177 minutes, came as the Australians finally got their scoring rate moving and as Bangladesh's bowlers started to struggle after a day of defensive bowling which made good use of the slow outfield that has plagued the game. Australia ended on a run-rate of 3.46 per over.

Waugh capitalised on the fine third-wicket stand by Darren Lehmann and Justin Langer (71) which, while cautious to the extreme, laid the foundation for the later assault. The Australians had been well-contained by the defensive bowling throughout the morning.

However, after the break, Lehmann achieved his second Test century and went on to 110 before he was dismissed, the first of two wickets in an over by Mashrafe Mortaza who was bowling around the mid-130kmph mark at that stage. He also bowled Martin Love first ball. But the combination of Waugh and Adam Gilchrist turned the situation around by adding 69 in 58 minutes.

Although he lost Gilchrist, the length of the Australian tail ensured that Waugh would have enough competent batsmen to reach his 31st Test century. Brett Lee swatted his way to 23 in a 64-run partnership in 12.3 overs, while Gillespie scored 16 off 15 balls and was unbeaten when Waugh hit the last two runs for his century and immediately declared with his Test average back over 50 at 50.31.

But all is not lost for Bangladesh. If they can continue the forthright attitude they adopted this evening into the third day, and keep their wickets intact, they will at least have the opportunity to make Australia bat again. But it is just as easy to imagine that Australia will be determined to ensure their bats and pads stay safely packed in their coffins by exposing the lack of concentration that has so far marred Bangladesh's life in Test cricket.

[JLC]

The result is a given. It will be like the way Collingwood toyed with Richmond in the second half.

They had an interview with Hauritz during the week on the radio and they asked him some questions. Could Bangladesh beat a State team ? No was the reply. Would any of them get a game for Queensland ? No was the reply. Although he did say they will improve eventually.

That was more than enough for me not to take too much notice in the game.

jlc