Labuschagne ton puts Australia in control vs WI

lmes.com PERTH: Marnus Labu schagne cracked a masterful unbeaten !54 whi le Usma n Kh awaja and Steve Smith hil 50s as a domi· nan t Australia took co nt rol of the opening Test aga inst the West Indies at Perth Stadium on Wednesday .

The hosts reached a n ominou s 293/2 al stumps on Day I following captain Pat Cumm ins' decision to bat in hot and dry conditions. The total was bui lt on the back of a 142-run stand between Labuschagne and Kh awaja, who ca me together after David Warner was out fo r five, then an unbeaten 142 with Smith.

A focused Labuschagne, who SLttvived chances on 75 and 137, brought up his eighth century in his 29 th Test and wit h the in·fo rm Smith unbea ten on 59, the omens are not good for the visitors, who have failed to win a Test in Australia for 25 years.

West l nd ies bowled with ple nty of di scipline, but the cha nces were few and far between. After gelli ng the early wi cket of Warner, they had to toil for hours to bag anothe r, with Khawaja compiling 65.

Labuschagnc and Khawaja had to work hard against eco· nomica! bowling in the opening session, but th ey accelerated after the break with Labuscha· gne bringing up his 50 with a three off Jason Holder.

Afaultless Khawaja, who has been a rock at the top of the

• order this year , soon fo llowed, cracking spinner Roslon for four and then a single to reach his 18th half-century in his 52nd Test. Khawaja had scored four Test centuries and reached the 90s twice in the last 12 months, with more glory beckoning. But he was undone by a beautiful delivery from Mayers, which trimm ed the out· side edge of his bat and was an easy take for Da Silva.

Undeterred, Labuschagne powered to three figures from 192 balls, hitting the milestone with his 13th boundary, off Sea· les. Smith has reverted to a more orthodox batting style wh ich saw him score 94 and an unbeaten 80 in Austra lia·s recent OD! series against England, and he again looked in good nick.

Wearing black armbands to mourn former West Indies wicketkeeper David Murray, who died last week, the visitors kept Warner and Khawaja in check in the opening avers. Brief scores: Aus 293/2 (U Khawaja 65, MLabuschagne •• •

J Seales KMayers vs Wl st umps on Day1