David Warner smashes fastest SCG century as Australia-West Indies third Test ends in a draw
Australia beat West Indies 2-0 in the three-match series as the rain affected third Test ended in a draw. On the Day 5 of the third Test David Warner found enough time to score the fastest hundred at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The Australian vice-captain went on to score 122 in 103 balls punishing the Caribbean bowlers all around the park.
Australian Captain Steven Smith called Warner and Nevill in as a declaration with Australia at 2/176 before umpires offered both teams an option to call an early draw.
Warner was named man of the match for his aggressive innings. Middle order batsman Adam Voges was named Player of the Series and was awarded the inaugural Richie Benaud Medal for the best player in a Test series between Australia and the West Indies.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Peter Nevill was promoted to bat at No. 4 after Mitchel Marsh’s miserable time with the bat continued. Marsh was removed when he managed a top edge swipe to first slip off the bowling of spinner Jomel Warrican. The all-rounder fell for 21 runs from 63 balls.
David Warner has raced to the quickest century ever scored at the SCG. Despite being halted by a short rain delay that forced an early tea break, Warner raced to his ton from just 82 balls to complete the most swashbuckling innings ever seen at the famous Sydney venue.
Warner resumed for the final session of play 90 not out from 72 balls, needing 10 runs from 11 balls to topple Aussie Test legend Matthew Hayden’s record against Zimbabwe in 2004. Hayden smashed 100 from 84 balls.
After the second successive day’s play was washed away by rain at SCG, play resumed on the fifth and final day of the Test. West Indies were stuck at 7/248 in their first innings. On the fifth day West Indies were knocked over for 330.
Steve O’Keefe ended a frustrating opening session on day five for the Australian bowlers by cleaning up the West Indies’ tail — just in time for an infuriatingly long lunch break. He ended Denesh Ramdin’s resistance on 61 when he lured the West Indian into a flashing drive. Steve Smith did the rest by taking a sharp overhead catch at first slip.
Brief scores- Match Drawn- WI 330 all out (Barthwaite 85, Carlos Barthwaite 69; Steve O’Keefe 3/63) AUS 176/2 (Warner 122*, Burns 26; Warrican 2/62)