Clarke scores ton on 1st day of first Test

CHENNAI: Australia reached 316 for 7 at the end of the first day’s play of the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Chennai.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, Australia got off to a decent start with a 64 runs opening partnership between M.Cowans and D.Warner. Warner went on to complete his half-century with the help of 6 fours.

Then there was bit of a middle order collapse that saw Australia go from 64-1 to 153-5, before skipper M.Clarke and M.Henriques featured in a 151 run 6th wicket partnership to steady the ship. Clarke is still unbeaten on 103 with 11fours and a maximum. The Test debutant M.Henriques showed great composure and technique to score 68 very useful runs.

R.Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers on a wicket that seems tailor made for him. He has taken 6 of the 7 wickets that have fallen so far giving away 88 runs in 30 economical overs.