44 Friday Sports Friday, December 27, 2019 Smith eyes century as Australia seize control against N Zealand

MELBOURNE: Master batsman night clash in Perth by 296 runs. It was a bold ground out an unbeaten 77 yesterday as he ze- decision by Williamson to bowl on a pitch that roed in on yet another century, putting Australia has traditionally been docile and favoured the in the driving seat after the opening day of the batsmen. second Test against New Zealand. And it appeared to pay dividends in a sizzling In the Black Caps’ first Boxing Day Test at the opening over from , back after miss- Melbourne Ground since 1987, skipper ing two Tests with a rib injury. After three testing Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to balls to Warner, his fourth clattered into Burns’ bowl, and it looked to be a good decision with middle stump, with the opener out for a golden Joe Burns out first ball and David Warner just duck to huge roars from the large New Zealand before lunch. contingent in the 80,000-strong crowd. But first Marnus Labuschagne, the world’s Boult was sorely missed by the Black Caps in leading run-scorer for 2019, and then Smith Perth and along with found early smacked half centuries to seize back control and swing and zip with the ball. “Obviously we would leave them on 257 for four, frustrating the disci- have liked a few more on our tally,” said plined New Zealand bowlers. Boult. “I think the overheads (cloudy conditions) Along with the fidgety Smith, Travis Head and the way the pitch played in the first hour or was 25, desperate for runs after a lean two, it’s annoying not to have them a couple spell. Labuschagne made 63 with Colin de more down. “On the positive, they haven’t got Grandhomme taking 2-48. too far ahead of the game. Hopefully we get a The signs are ominous for New Zealand with couple (of wickets) early tomorrow.” superstar Smith scoring centuries in his past four After Burns fell, Labuschagne and Warner Tests in Melbourne, and a fifth looking likely. dug in to wrestle back the initiative before a Neil “The way they bowled and placed their field, Wagner delivery saw Warner caught at slip for MELBOURNE: Australian batsman Steve Smith plays a shot on the first day of the second cricket Test I had to be patient,” said Smith. “It’s not the kind 41, with Southee taking an outstanding one- match against New Zealand at the MCG in Melbourne yesterday. —AFP of you could go after them. I think we did handed catch. The in-form Labuschagne looked pretty well today. set for another big score after plundering his “The plan will obviously be to score as many fifth consecutive 50, having converted three of and after a poor summer, by his standards, ap- get. As in Perth, Matthew Wade again came as we can (on Friday),” he added. “But after get- his previous four into centuries. peared determined to build a decent score. under a short-ball barrage from Neil Wagner, ting sent it, I think you’d take 257 for four at the But it wasn’t to be and he was out in bizarre It was slow going, but he brought up his 28th with one bouncing off his helmet as their rivalry end of the day. One more good partnership fashion, with a rising de Grandhomme ball rico- Test half-century off 103 balls — his first in four heated up. would be nice and sort of set the game up for cheting off his elbow and onto the stumps as he Tests. Along the way he passed Greg Chappell But he survived to make 38 and provide valu- us.” The visitors need to win to square the three- attempted to leave it. Smith was met with a mix (7,110 runs) to become Australia’s 10th highest able support for Smith before edging de Grand- match series after crashing in the opening day- of boos and cheers as he walked to the crease run-scorer, with David Boon’s 7,422 his next tar- homme to wicketkeeper BJ Watling. — AFP

South Africa fight back after Arteta says Xhaka can succeed England grab first-ball wicket at Arsenal despite fan fallout PRETORIA: England took a South African warm-up delivery down the leg side that Elgar wicket with the opening delivery of their Test tried to flick at but instead edged through to LONDON: Arsenal midfielder Granit Bournemouth on Thursday. series yesterday, adding four more in the first wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. Xhaka is moving in the right direction as “I was happy when Arsenal signed him two sessions before a strong sixth-wicket That set the tone for a scratchy early bat- he rebuilds his relationship with the club’s because I thought he awas going to be a partnership saw the hosts through to 187-5 at ting display. Markram looked in positive form fans and can be an important player for terrific player. He has done some really tea. James Anderson marked his 150th cap after recovering from a broken wrist, sus- the team going forward, new manager good things and now has got stuck in a and return to the England attack at Centurion tained when he thumped the change room Mikel Arteta said. difficult situation that was growing and Park with the first-ball wicket of home opener wall after being dismissed for a pair of ducks Swiss international Xhaka reacted an- growing and one day it exploded. Dean Elgar, as Sam Curran and Stuart Broad in South Africa’s second test in India in Octo- grily to home supporters booing him as “But I have been amazed by how this took two scalps each. ber. But he contrived to chip the ball to Jonny he walked off the pitch in a match against relationship is starting to come back a lit- Quinton de Kock then sought to bash his Bairstow at midwicket for 20 off 23 balls. Crystal Palace in October and was sub- tle bit and the fans have been positive team out of trouble, making a quickfire 64 off Hamza, 24 and playing in just his third test, sequently stripped of captaincy by for- about him. It’s difficult to change com- 69 balls to keep up home hopes of a decent was caught behind by Ben Stokes off Broad mer manager Unai Emery. pletely the scenario from where he was to score in the first innings of the four-Test se- for 39, just when he was looking likely to es- The 27-year-old, who was also a magnificent one. But we’re in the right ries. He and 30-year-old debutant Dwaine tablish his credentials in an inexperienced dropped, has since found his way back direction.” Xhaka has been linked by the Pretorius (25) had taken their unbeaten part- South Africa team struggling after the recent into the squad and former Manchester German media with a switch to Hertha nership to 76 by tea. retirement of many stalwarts. City assistant Arteta said he would offer Berlin but Arteta said he had spoken to Broad, who had been a doubt after missing England all-rounder Stokes elected to play his full support to Xhaka, having taken the player about his future. the warm-up games with flu, took 2-29 off 11 as the health of his hospitalised father Ged, charge of 11th-placed Arsenal last week. “I told him how much I like him and overs, including the promising Zubayr Hamza who fell seriously ill in Johannesburg on for 39 and captain Faf du Plessis, who made Monday, showed signs of improvement. Eng- “When I was going from Arsenal to what I expect from him, how important he 29. Curran had opener Aiden Markram out for land’s selection had been in doubt up until City to start coaching and we were look- is for the team,” Arteta added. “I’m here 20 and then Rassie van der Dussen, another Thursday morning as several players had ing at that position, he was one of the to help him, I want him to feel we’re right debutant at 30, caught behind for six. been struck down by illness. Jack Leech, Ollie players on my list,” Arteta, a former Ar- behind him... if we can get fans in the The 37-year-old Anderson’s first ball back Pope and Chris Woakes remained out of con- senal midfielder, told the British media right way as well... it’ll be helpful for the in for five months, having limped tention, but Jofra Archer was another to re- before his first match in charge at team.” — Reuters out of the Ashes with a calf injury, was a cover in time to play. — Reuters