Australia dominates Day 1- West Indies v Australia 1st Test Report

Australia dominates Day 1- West Indies v Australia 1st Test Report: Australians hold the upper hand at the end of first day’s play against West Indies at Dominica where 13 wickets fell. The Aussie bowlers dismissed the hosts for 148 and in reply the visitors lost 3 wickets but are in a steady position with a score of 85 and trailing by only another 63 runs.

West Indies won the toss and decided to bat first on what was supposed to be a slow track assisting spinners. The hosts started scratchily with Braithwaite edging one off Hazlewood to keeper for 10. However, things looked good for them as Shai Hope and Darren Bravo played their shots and scored at a good pace only till Nathan Lyon’s strike opened the destruction mode of the West Indies.

Bravo edged a delivery off Lyon into slips where Clarke took a great catch as he returned to the pavilion after score 19 with 63 runs on the board. Just before Lunch, Johnson had his first scalp inform of Hope who scored 36. Soon after Lunch, Hazlewood cleaned up Dowrich who was driving the ball very well. Not so long after getting the debutant Dowrich, Hazlewood got better of Blackwood as the hosts were half down for 87.

In no time, West Indies lost Samuels, who was bounced out by Starc. Ramdin and Holder tried to save their side and put on 30 run stand before Johnson and Starc sent back Ramdin and Holder for 19 and 21 respectively. The Australians didn’t allow the tail wagging as the West Indians got bowled out for 148 with Hazlewood and Johnson finishing with 3 wickets each.

Australians who began their batting lost David Warner early. Warner, who was looking good by hitting a boundary in 2nd over but fell to Taylor’s short delivery in the following over. Steven Smith and Shaun Marsh went into a defensive shell as Aussies scoreboard hardly moved.

Marsh’s defense was broken by Holder who made the left hander poke one to the slips for 19. Michael Clarke came out with a scoring mood as he pulled away a delivery off Bishoo for a huge six on the 4th ball he faced. Clarke looked like scoring quickly but he walked off after edging a cut shot off Bishoo.

Adam Voges, who was making his debut at 35 came out to bat at No.5 and struck consecutive boundaries against Bishoo on 2nd and 3rd ball he faced. He scored couple of more boundaries before stumps and remained unbeaten on 20 along with Smith who scored a 67-ball 17 without hitting any boundaries.

Brief Scorecard:

Australia: 85 for 3 in 30 overs (AC Voges 20*, SE Marsh 19; JO Holder 1/14, JE Taylor 1/19) trail by 63 runs.

West Indies: 148 all out in 53.5 overs (SD Hope 36, JO Holder 21; JR Hazlewood 3/33, MG Johnson 3/34)