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Johnson puts Australia in charge

category: Cricket

14.06.2008 00:26

The visitors could manage only 251 in their first innings, but the hosts were skittled for 216 in reply.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul made 79 not out, but Johnson took 4-41 as West Indies lost their last six wickets for 48.

Australia were 35-0 in their second innings at stumps, 70 runs ahead and favourites to seal the series 2-0.

It was a wasted opportunity for the West Indies as Chanderpaul's third consecutive not out innings was once again badly supported by his team-mates.

The in-form Chanderpaul has now scored 392 runs so far in the series at an average of 196, but the tourists have escaped from a tricky situation after a collapse from the Windies lower order.

Australia added just 25 runs to their overnight total of 226-7 but Ricky Ponting's side soon bounced back with the ball.

Brett Lee removed both openers, with captain Chris Gayle (14) and Sewnarine Chattergoon (6) both going cheaply.

Ramnaresh Sarwan (20) fell to Stuart Clark before lunch thanks to a magnificent catch from Mike Hussey at backward point.

Xavier Marshall made a bright 39 before debutant spinner Beau Casson took a catch off Andrew Symonds' bowling.

Chanderpaul and Bravo consolidated, putting on 60 for the fifth wicket but Bravo was then caught behind for 29 flicking a leg-side delivery from Johnson.

Bravo's exit quickly led to an all-too-familiar lower-order collapse as Denish Ramdin, Sulieman Benn, Jerome Taylor, Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards all went without reaching double figures as the last five wickets fell for just 28 runs.

Australia openers Simon Katich and Phil Jaques negotiated 14 overs in the final session, adding 35 without loss.

Original text is here

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