West Indies collapse leaves Aussies in control of final Test

Irish Sun (IANS) Wednesday 25th April, 2012

Brittle batting returned to haunt the West Indies as they suffered a familiar collapse to leave Australia in control of the third and final Test here at Windsor Park.

Chasing Australia's first innings of 328, the West Indies were tottering on 165 for eight, still 163 runs adrift, at the end of tne second day Tuesday.

They were batting on 62 for one at one stage after lunch but lost seven wickets for 58 runs as off-spinner Nathan Lyon undermined the innings with three for 49.

The damage could have been greater, but the ever dependable Shiv Chanderpaul joined Ravi Rampaul in a 45-run ninth-wicket stand to prop up the innings late in the day.

Chanderpaul was unbeaten on 34 from 110 balls with two fours while Rampaul scored a breezy 24 from 33 balls with four fours.

Earlier, Matthew Wade's maiden first class century robbed the West Indies of any early advantage as the left-hander played superbly to convert his overnight 22 into 106.

He outshone off-spinner Shane Shillingford who picked up two of the three wickets to fall in the morning session to finish with six for 119, to log his first five-wicket haul in Tests.

Wade, however, played outstandingly and once he reached his half-century, accelerated to post his second fifty off just 33 balls.

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