| Cricket: Jaques scores second ton against the Indians |
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| Friday, 21 July 2006 | |
 (sportal.com.au) Aggressive opener Phil Jaques notched his second straight century in the Top End Series clash with India A in Cairns as Australia A looks a strong winning chance heading into the final day's play.India A has started its second innings brightly though, progressing to 0-117 to trail by 364 at stumps on day three as it attempts to reach the massive 482-run total the home side set for victory. Openers Robin Uthappa (67) and Gautam Gambhir (40) had little trouble with a bowling attack that routed India A for just 254 in its first innings, the pair coming to the crease after the tea interval following Australia A's second innings declaration on 7-274 which included Jaques' masterful century. The pace trio of Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait and Shane Watson, who claimed 10 wickets between them in India A's first dig, struggled to contain the Indian pair, who struck 11 boundaries between them. Mark Cosgrove and Dan Cullen were introduced to the attack late in the day as Australia A hoped that spin could break the threatening partnership, with opening bowler Johnson (0-36 off seven overs) proving expensive. Earlier, India A resumed at 7-221 with Parthiv Patel (18) and Rudra Pratap Singh (one) hoping to resurrect the home side's hopes at the Cazaly's ground. But when Singh was caught by Watson off Johnson's bowling for two, things looked ugly for India A. Patel worked hard to keep the visitors' score ticking over, but after he and Shib Paul put on 23 for the ninth wicket, Johnson - who finished with 4-45 - struck again to remove Patel for 43. Tait drew an edge from Paul for four in the next over to end the innings with Siddarth Trivedi stranded at the crease on nil. Australia A then looked to score quickly in order to set a target that would make it next to impossible for the home side to lose the match, and Jaques and Chris Rogers responded by putting on a show for the fans, scoring at over five runs per over en route to a 169-run opening stand before the latter was caught and bowled by India A skipper Venugopal Rao for 64 off 87 balls. Jaques - who made 240 in Australia A's first innings total of 4-461(dec) - was in devastating form, dispatching seven fours and five sixes in his quickfire 117 off 103 balls before succumbing to the Indian captain. Wickets fell steadily from that point on, with only Watson (26) getting into the 20s as Australia A headed for its tea declaration. Venugopal Rao claimed 4-79 to be the pick of the India A bowlers, with paceman Piyush Chawla chiming in with 2-55. |
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