- Australia vs Pakistan, 3rd Test, Sydney, 1st day
- Australia 365-3 against Pakistan on day one of the Sydney Test
- David Warner becomes first player to hit century before lunch in Australia
Contrasting centuries from David Warner and Matt Renshaw at the SCG have piloted Australia to an imposing total of 365-3 at stumps on day one of the third Test against Pakistan. Warner raced to three figures in just 78 deliveries and 118 minutes, exposing the tourists in an unprecedented pre-lunch ton on Tuesday.
The dashing opener became just the fifth batsman in the 140-year history of Test cricket to celebrate a hundred in the first session of a game. That accomplished list includes Don Bradman, like so many in the sport, but prior to Warner nobody had ever achieved the fabled feat in Australia.
Renshaw adopted a decidedly different approach, taking 201 balls and three sessions to compile his maiden Test hundred at age 20. Bradman is one of six Australian Test batsmen to ton up at a younger age. The burly youngster switched gears after tea, almost doubling his score by adding 84 runs in the session to finish day one on 167 not out.
Renshaw was assessed for concussion and needed a new helmet after a nasty bouncer blow from Mohammad Amir on 91. He batted on to better Warner’s 113 in the 71st over of the innings, further demoralising the tourists by successfully reviewing an incorrect lbw decision then seeing off the second new ball with vigour.
The new-look opening combination shared a 151-run stand, giving the hosts an ideal platform to push for a 3-0 series sweep despite the cheap dismissals of Usman Khawaja (13) and Steve Smith (24). Renshaw scored a single run in the same time it took his vice-captain to score 38 of them, while the youngest member of the side was on 21 when Warner was 100.
Warner celebrated wildly in the final over before the meal break, having scampered back for a third run to complete his 18th Test ton. “I wasn’t aware about the stats,” Warner said of the national first he achieved in the 410th Test hosted by Australia since 1877. Warner was in his element after Smith won the toss, feasting on anything short or wide. There was plenty of both.
The visitors were also guilty of sloppy fielding. The most cringe-worthy culprit was captain Misbah-ul-Haq, who gifted Warner one of his 17 boundaries in the third over when the ball passed between his legs. Khawaja was dropped on three by Babar Azam but only added 10 runs after the reprieve, and keeper Sarfraz Ahmed missed a stumping when Peter Handscomb was on nine. Handscomb finished 40 not out. – Agencies
