David Warner dominated, dissected and demolished New Zealand with his maiden double-century to drive Australia to 416-2 at the close of play on a one-sided opening day of the second Test at the WACA in Perth, Australia, yesterday.
Picking up where he left off in the first Test in Brisbane, the opener scored 244 not out for his third century in three innings as the hosts dominated New Zealand’s bowlers as ruthlessly as they had in the 208-run victory at the Gabba.
Usman Khawaja claimed his maiden Test century in the first Test and got his second yesterday but even his sometimes sublime stroke play had to play second fiddle to his fellow left-hander’s brilliance on a sweltering day in Perth.
Photo: Reuters
“The way he’s batting at the moment, he’s making it look so easy,” Khawaja told ABC radio. “Test cricket isn’t easy, no matter who you play against. It’s just really nice to watch, I hope it continues for a long time, you don’t want to waste good form.”
Khawaja was caught by Tom Latham in the covers off Doug Bracewell and departed for 121 to end a 302-run partnership with Warner shortly before stumps, leaving skipper Steve Smith (5 not out) to resume on day two.
Warner, once dismissed as a Twenty20 slogger, was batting on the same ground where he hit a 69-ball century on the way to his previous career-highest score of 180 against India in 2012.
This innings was the work of a far more experienced batsman, though, even if it started with similar aggression when Warner clattered the first two balls he faced for four to either side of the ground.
Having established his dominance, his batting became more circumspect and he was happy to reach his half-century off a single. The 29-year-old had put on 101 with Joe Burns when his new opening partner chopped a Matt Henry delivery onto his stumps to depart for 40 just before lunch.
Warner was by no means done yet, though, and he brought up his 15th Test century by hammering his 12th four over midwicket.
The 150 came from 182 balls with another two fours and the addition of his first six, but his celebrations were muted compared with those for his century, indicating that his real target still lay ahead.
His second six took him to 197 and after a single from the 236th ball he faced got him to the milestone for the first time, Warner performed another celebratory leap, before raising his bat and helmet to the sky.
At stumps, he had faced 272 balls and hit 22 fours and two sixes.
New Zealand’s day had started well with key paceman Tim Southee passed fit to play, but it rapidly went downhill after skipper Brendon McCullum lost the toss.
Fielding a four-pronged pace attack after Henry replaced injured all-rounder James Neesham, the Black Caps were unable to muster any movement from swing or seam to test the Australia batsmen.
Skipper McCullum was also culpable for using up New Zealand’s two reviews on marginal leg before wicket calls, and leaving them without one when Khawaja appeared to get an edge on a Mark Craig delivery and was caught behind.
Khawaja had another life just before tea when Bracewell let the ball through his hands on the boundary and he made the most of his reprieve in the final session as Australia racked up the highest score ever on the opening day of a WACA Test.
“It wasn’t our best day of Test cricket, and we know we’ve got to come out tomorrow and be better,” Latham said.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
Playing soccer and competing for trophies is the best way that many transplanted Hong Kongers and Macanese have found to stay in touch, and to interact with Taiwanese society, said officials at the Taiwan-Hong Kong-Macau Football Friendship Cup, which was held on April 13. Twelve clubs, mostly of players and coaches originally from Hong Kong and Macau, took part in the tournament in New Taipei City. The event is sponsored by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) and the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council. Participating teams were from the wider Taipei area, Hsinchu, Taichung, Kaohsiung and other areas. They divided into two