Fourth Test: David Warner scores ton as Australia dominate first day against India
Tuesday 6 January 2015 14:19, UK
David Warner scored an emotional century as Australia piled up 348-2 on the opening day of the fourth Test with India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Warner smashed 101 off just 114 balls and opening partner Chris Rogers fell five short of a hundred as the Australian pair put on 200 for the opening wicket in the first Test at the SCG since the tragic death of Phillip Hughes, who was killed playing there six weeks ago.
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Warner and Rogers were dismissed after lunch but captain Steve Smith (81 not out) and Shane Watson (56no) ensured the hosts maintained their momentum with an unbroken third-wicket stand of 144.
Smith is closing on yet another century – if he makes it on day two it will be the fourth consecutive Test match in which he has reached three figures, closing on the all-time record of six, set by Don Bradman.
The death of the 25-year-old Hughes, who was struck by a short delivery in a first class match in late November, has cast a shadow over the series.
Cricket Australia unveiled a memorial plaque outside the home side's dressing room on Monday, while both teams paid tribute to the left-hander before the game began on Tuesday.
Rogers and Warner gave the Aussies a blistering start after Smith won the toss, putting on 123 in the opening session, with Warner pausing to kiss the pitch and signal to the sky when he reached 63, the score Hughes was on when he was hit by the ball.
Warner, who scored twin centuries in Adelaide, brought up his ton when he pulled Mohammed Shami to the deep square-leg boundary for his 16th boundary.
But he departed shortly after when he edged Ravichandran Ashwin to Murali Vijay at gully after he and Rogers had brought up their double-century partnership.
Rogers, who had made half-centuries in each of his last four Test innings, was given a reprieve on 19 when he was dropped by Lokesh Rahuon at second slip but once again missed out on triple figures when he got a thick edge from Mohammed Shami that crashed into his stumps.
Smith continued his rich form by notching up his 10th half-century in Tests as the hapless Indian bowlers went wicketless in the final session.
Watson, who has failed to convert his starts in the series, looked solid on his way to his 24th Test fifty but was lucky to survive an edge in the last over off Umesh Yadav which flew through the hands of Ashwin at first slip.
Australia are already 2-0 up in the four-match series.
