SPORTS SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2014 Samuels, Smith Warner puts Aussies on confident top as Test turns feisty ahead of Tests ADELAIDE: David Warner’s second cen- tury put Australia in control of the first BENONI: West Indian batsmen Marlon Samuels and Test against India but umpires twice had Devon Smith both expressed confidence on Friday after to intervene as tempers flared in the third and final day of the tourists’ match against a Adelaide. South African Invitation XI at Willowmoore Park was Warner’s batting again caused trou- abandoned without a ball bowled because of rain. ble for India, scoring 102 to go with his The West Indians were in a strong position with the emotional first-day 145 as Australia built Invitation XI due to resume their second innings at 17 for a healthy lead in the first of the four-Test no wicket, still 366 runs behind the West Indian first series. At the close, the Australians had innings total of 508. extended their overall lead to 363 runs Samuels hit 203 and Smith 174, with both batsmen at 290 for five, with an overnight decla- retiring. The pair put on 360 for the third wicket. ration expected. First-innings centurion “I basically paced myself. I am confident,” said Steve Smith was 52 not out and Brad Samuels. “I have been batting very well and I used that Haddin was on 14. The home side went momentum to bring me into this game. I am just enjoy- after runs late in the day and Mitchell ing batting at the moment and putting some good Marsh clubbed leg-spinner Karn Sharma scores on the board and helping out my team as much for three sixes and a four in one over, as possible”. before he was caught on the ropes for Smith, 33, who came into the Test squad as a late 40 off 26 balls while going after another replacement for the injured Chris Gayle, said he had six. The highest successful run chase at arrived in South Africa feeling confident after shining in the Adelaide Oval remains 315 for six by the West Indian domestic first-class competition. “I feel Australia against England in 1902. But it good. I think I was in good touch for the first round of was a day marked by confrontations, the first-class season. I had the most runs before I left and English umpire Ian Gould had to home so I think this trend continued from where I left step in as players exchanged terse off,” he said Smith. “I am a little more mature now so I words and pointed fingers at each other. think my game play is different than before”. The first spat came after Warner was The left-hander from Grenada said he had changed bowled by express paceman Varun his approach to batting and he intended to use the tour Aaron for 66 in the 34th over, only to be of South Africa as an opportunity to cement his place in recalled when replays showed Aaron the West Indies team. had sent down a no-ball. Aaron had giv- “I try to apply myself as long as possible to the wicket en Warner a loud send-off, but the pug- and I think I am a bit more selective in my shot playing.” nacious opener responded in kind when The first of three Tests against South Africa starts at he was recalled to the crease. Shane Centurion on Wednesday.—AFP Watson, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan all joined in, exchanging sharp words AUSTRALIA:India’s Mohammed Shami (right) plays a shot as Australia’s Brad before umpire Gould eventually calmed Haddin (left) looks on during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match. —AFP down the warring parties. Gulf Women’s “I don’t know if the temperatures got morning session. through 47 minutes into the morning to 40 degrees-plus but I think it was get- Lyon captured five for 134 off 36 session when he brilliantly caught Rohit ting to a few people out there, but that’s overs as India unravelled after resuming Sharma for 43 off his own bowling. Cricket Cup cricket, it happens,” Warner said. at 369 for five. The tourists lost five wick- Lyon dived across the pitch and “When some decisions don’t go your ets for 75 on the fourth morning, with snapped up a two-handed catch just off way and you get bowled off a no-ball, Lyon leading the way with his unpre- the ground to dismiss Sharma and KUWAIT: Kuwait National women’s cricket team is all set to it’s what happens. “They’re going to dictable turn out of the bowlers’ foot- enable the Australians to expose the take up the challenge and are fully geared up to take part in come at you and you just have to learn marks. Lyon, coming off a poor series Indian tail. the inaugural GCC women’s T20 cricket tournament being to bite your tongue a bit and sometimes against Pakistan in the United Arab “We’ve seen how much Nathan’s hosted by Oman Cricket Association from Dec 13-20, 2014 at you don’t.” Emirates where he captured three Test evolved in the last 12-18 months,” Oman. This tournament is well designed for women cricketers wickets at an average of 140, thanked Warner said. “He’s worked hard at his to show their skill and talent and since long many of the GCC UNPREDICTABLE TURN India paceman Ishant Sharma for creat- game, he’s now got a five-wicket haul in women’s team have not been playing International cricket Tensions again rose when Smith and ing demons in the Adelaide Oval pitch the first innings and there’s no reason and it is for the first time that a cricket tournament for women Kohli came together, prompting Warner with his bowling footmarks. why he can’t come out tomorrow with is being organized by Oman and 4 GCC teams to the likes of to run down from the other end of the It was an outstanding piece of cricket his tail up and help us take these 10 Kuwait, Qatar, UAE and host Oman are participating in this pitch and come face-to-face with the by Lyon that triggered the break- wickets.” —AFP prestigious tournament. Indian captain before Gould again Kuwait women’s team under the astute captaincy of restored peace. Indian batsman Ajinkya Mariyam Omar have been undergoing vigorous training and Rahane said the feistiness was not a SCOREBOARD are beaming with confidence as they have been eagerly wait- problem. ing to participate in an international tournament. The team “It was competitive and between ADELAIDE, Australia: Scoreboard at the close on the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval yesterday: consists of some experienced players who have ample expo- India and Australia it’s always competi- sure to International cricket and some young blood who has tive cricket and it’s good for cricket,” Australia 1st innings 517 for 7 declared (S. Bowling: Johnson 22-6-102-2 (2nb), Harris 21- been motivated into this game. Tariq Rasool, the coach along Rahane said. “I thought both umpires Smith 162 not out, D. Warner 145, M. Clarke 6-55-1, Lyon 36-4-134-5, Siddle 18.4-2-88-2 128; M. Shami 2-120) (1w), Marsh 11-4-29-0, Watson 5-1-13-0, Smith with Sandra Almedia and Mehaboob Khan the Manager of the handled the situations really well and team are both confident that the team would perform well India 1st innings (369 for 5 overnight) 3-0-19-0 that’s going to happen... it’s really good M. Vijay c Haddin b Johnson 53 and can be the dark horse of the tournament as they are capa- for the game.” S. Dhawan b Harris 25 Australia 2nd innings ble of upsetting any favorite team on a given day. Warner, dropped on 89, was finally C. Pujara b Lyon 73 C. Rogers c R. Sharma b K. Sharma 21 The inaugural GCC Women’s Twenty20 Championship will out in the 60th over when he was V. Kohli c Harris b Johnson 115 D. Warner b K.Sharma 102 be played in Oman this month. The five-day event will feature bowled around his legs by Karn Sharma. A. Rahane c Watson b Lyon 62 S. Watson b Shami 33 the hosts along with Kuwait, Qatar, and UAE. “It’s a wonderful The Indians also claimed the wickets of R. Sharma c and b Lyon 43 M. Clarke c Saha b Aaron 7 opportunity for the women to play some international cricket Chris Rogers (21), Watson (33) and skip- W. Saha c Watson b Lyon 25 S. Smith not out 52 after quite some time,” says ACC Development Officer Iqbal per Michael Clarke (7), but with each run K. Sharma b Siddle 4 M. Marsh c Vijay b R. Sharma 40 Sikander. The initiative has been taken by Oman and is mak- Australia were making the task even M. Shami c Watson b Siddle 34 B. Haddin not out 14 ing use of the funds allocated to women’s cricket by the ACC. more difficult for the tourists on a wear- I. Sharma c Smith b Lyon 0 UAE, the pioneers of women’s cricket in the Gulf, who have ing pitch heading into Saturday’s final V. Aaron not out 3 Extras (b1, lb6, w5, nb9) 21 been playing in ACC women’s events since 2007 have select- day.