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Symonds survives to spare Australia's blushes in Sydney

Andrew Symonds hit a fighting century and featured in a ground record stand to rescue Australia on the opening day of the second cricket Test against India in Sydney yesterday.

The dreadlocked all-rounder resisted with his second Test century, crunching an unbeaten 137 to deny India the knockout blow after the Australians had sagged to 134-for-six in the 35th over.

Symonds joined in a 173-run partnership with leg-spinner Brad Hogg to shatter a 44-year Sydney Cricket Ground Test record of 160 for the seventh wicket set by Richie Benaud and Graham McKenzie against South Africa.

Hogg looked poised for his maiden Test century before he was caught at slip off fellow leg-spinner Anil Kumble for 79 off 102 balls with 18 overs left to stumps.

At the close, Australia were 376-for-seven with Brett Lee the other not out batsman on 31.

"Four hundred runs will be a very healthy first innings score," Symonds said. "I suppose it puts us in a position where we hope we wouldn't lose the game from there."

"If we bowl well and bat well again then we can put ourselves in a very good position to win the game," he said.

Until the salvaging act by Symonds and Hogg, the Indians had looked set to redeem themselves after their ignominious 337-run defeat in the first Melbourne Test last weekend.

They rocked Australia, taking 4-15 in the space of five overs after lunch to leave them in trouble at 134-for-six.

India will rue the reprieve Symonds enjoyed when he was on 30 after he edged Ishant Sharma to wicketkeeper Mahendra Dhoni, but was given not out by umpire Steve Bucknor despite television replays showing otherwise.

"I was very lucky. I was out when I was 30, given not out. That's cricket though," Symonds said. "I can sit here and tell you about my bad decisions as well, but I won't. That's the game. It's just one of those things."

Symonds, looking increasingly assured batting at No. 6 in the Australian lineup since his 156 against England in Melbourne a year ago, has faced 173 balls and hit 17 fours and two sixes.

Australia can hold on to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with a record-equaling 16th consecutive Test victory.

India, with left-arm paceman RP Singh leading the attack with four wickets after Zaheer Khan's withdrawal with a heel injury, were on track to skittle Australia for a sub-200 score.

But the opportunity was snatched from them by the belligerent partnership between Symonds and Hogg.

"There's still three more wickets to go but I think the wicket's still pretty slow and we have a great batting lineup," Singh said.

■ S AFRICA V W INDIES

AP, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa's pace bowlers took three wickets before lunch yesterday to have West Indies at 83-3 on the first day of the second of three Tests.

West Indies skipper Chris Gayle won the toss at the Newlands Stadium and chose to bat in pursuit of a second win against South Africa, after winning the first Test last weekend by 128 runs.

The tourists were in early trouble when Dale Steyn had opener Darren Ganga caught behind for three, with the total at 12. But Runako Morton joined Gayle in a partnership that put up 59 in 11 overs before Morton hit the ball straight to Makhaya Ntini to be caught for 23 off Jacques Kallis' first over.

Gayle showed signs of still being bothered by a hamstring injury, but hit two sixes and two fours in scoring 46 before he was caught by Neil McKenzie off the bowling of Andre Nel.
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