Australia’s Warner blasts fastest SCG century in West Indies Test stalemate

Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com Draw gives hosts 2-0 series victory against WI

Australian batsman Mitch Marsh drives a ball away from the West Indies bowling on the final day of the third cricket Test match played in

Sydney on Jan 7. (AFP) SYDNEY, Jan 7, (RTRS): Australia’s David Warner lit up the fifth day of the weather-ravaged third test against West Indies with an 82-ball century before the dead rubber contest petered out in a draw at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday.

A draw and a 2-0 series victory for the hosts was always on the cards after all but 11 overs of day two and the entirety of days three and four were washed out.

Australia captain Steve Smith, however, said he had offered his West Indies counterpart Jason Holder a deal which would have set up the chance of a result but was turned down. “I offered him 370 in 70 overs, which I thought was pretty generous,” Smith told reporters. “It would take some good batting to get that on a day five SCG wicket but they weren’t up for the challenge unfortunately.” Holder said West Indies had made a collective decision to spurn the offer. “We just felt at this stage of our development it wasn’t the best thing for us,” he told reporters.

“It was a team vote, team decision ... I just think it was the best thing for the team.” West Indies, who had resumed on 248 for seven, were dismissed for 330 to bring up lunch before Man of the Match Warner launched his assault in front of 6,000 fans attracted to the ground by free entry.

It was a typically aggressive display of batting from the local lefthander, who had notched up 122 not out to help Australia to 176 for two when the players shook hands on the draw.

The 29-year-old hit two sixes and 14 fours in his 103ball knock, heaping more indignity onto a West Indies bowling attack which took just 12 wickets over the series.

He reached his 16th test century when he swept the ball down leg side for three runs before leaping into the air in his now traditional celebration of the milestone.

Joe Burns was the tourists’ 11th victim, departing for 26 and allrounder Mitch Marsh made 21 after being promoted up the batting order. Spinner Jomel Warrican claimed both wickets.

Peter Nevill scored seven not out in his only batting opportunity of the series, another illustration of Australia’s dominance.

Australia won the first test in Hobart by an innings and 212 runs before an equally dominant 177-run victory in the second test in Melbourne but a 2-0

The Australian cricket team celebrates with the Frank Worrell trophy after winning the Test series on the final day of the third cricket Test match played in

Sydney on Jan 7. (AFP)

Warner