OMEN
04-12-2006, 12:18 AM
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Support ... Gillespie congratulates Gilchrist on his 100.
AUSTRALIA calmly defused the ticking bomb of a Bangladesh upset yesterday, with Adam Gilchrist's superb century and early wickets salvaging an escape route for the besieged tourists.Gilchrist returned to form in arguably the most timely knock of his career, crafting a patient 144 as he combined with Australia's tail to push its wobbling first innings to a total of 269.
At the end of day three in this captivating Dhaka drama, the Australia bowlers backed up their vice-captain with the ball as well, snaring the key wickets of the Tigers' top-order to have them 5-124 at stumps, a lead of 282.
There remains plenty of work to do for Australia to craft a win, but Gilchrist at least has given it a fighting chance with one of his most determined innings to date.
The vice-captain combined with the tail to take Australia from a dire 6-93 to within 158 of Bangladesh's first innings of 427, with Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie dogged allies.
Gilchrist's 16th Test century was his first in more than a year and saw him complete a collection of centuries against every Test nation.
The dynamic left hander has endured a run of lean form in the Test arena of late, averaging just 23 since the start of the Ashes and with just 63 runs on the recent tour of South Africa.
But while Gilchrist entered the first Test promising to remain loyal to his attacking instincts, he was forced to bank one of his more patient knocks with Australia's back flat against the wall.
The 34-year-old brought up his 100 in an uncharacteristically sober 160 balls, steering Australia past the embarrassing prospect of a follow-on against the world's lowest ranked Test side.
Gilchrist's trademark lusty strokeplay was sighted only occasionally as he resisted the tempting but dangerous urge to lift the Bangladesh spin bowlers over the short boundaries at Fatullah Stadium.
If Australia's spirits were lifted by Gilchrist's fighting ton, they were upgraded to hopeful when Australia finally clicked in the field.
With slow-pitch specialist Gillespie thrown the new ball, he and Lee both looked immediately more in tune with the dry conditions.
Lee was fast and threatening early but only after watching Shane Warne and Matt Hayden both miss two slip chances did he finally pick up his first wicket of the game, upending the off stump of first innings centurion Shahriar Nafees for 33 with a full inswinger nine overs into the Tigers' second dig.
Gillespie bowled superbly, varying his pace, swing and angle of delivery in yet another good showing on his favoured subcontinent.
The de-mulleted South Australian pocketed 20 wickets in Australia's historic Test series win in India in 2004-2005 and has been, along with Stuart MacGill, the side's best bowler in Dhaka.
Earlier, Australia had resumed in all sorts of strife on 6-144 and Gilchrist's 63-run partnership with Lee came to an end just four overs into the day.
Gillespie and Gilchrist teamed up for a crucial 73-run stand however, with the big bowler's telescopic front foot defence a good match for the spinners.
The Tigers' best bowler Mohammad Rafique finally got rid of Australia's resistance however, finishing with 5-62 from 33 overs.
The Daily Telegraph
Support ... Gillespie congratulates Gilchrist on his 100.
AUSTRALIA calmly defused the ticking bomb of a Bangladesh upset yesterday, with Adam Gilchrist's superb century and early wickets salvaging an escape route for the besieged tourists.Gilchrist returned to form in arguably the most timely knock of his career, crafting a patient 144 as he combined with Australia's tail to push its wobbling first innings to a total of 269.
At the end of day three in this captivating Dhaka drama, the Australia bowlers backed up their vice-captain with the ball as well, snaring the key wickets of the Tigers' top-order to have them 5-124 at stumps, a lead of 282.
There remains plenty of work to do for Australia to craft a win, but Gilchrist at least has given it a fighting chance with one of his most determined innings to date.
The vice-captain combined with the tail to take Australia from a dire 6-93 to within 158 of Bangladesh's first innings of 427, with Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie dogged allies.
Gilchrist's 16th Test century was his first in more than a year and saw him complete a collection of centuries against every Test nation.
The dynamic left hander has endured a run of lean form in the Test arena of late, averaging just 23 since the start of the Ashes and with just 63 runs on the recent tour of South Africa.
But while Gilchrist entered the first Test promising to remain loyal to his attacking instincts, he was forced to bank one of his more patient knocks with Australia's back flat against the wall.
The 34-year-old brought up his 100 in an uncharacteristically sober 160 balls, steering Australia past the embarrassing prospect of a follow-on against the world's lowest ranked Test side.
Gilchrist's trademark lusty strokeplay was sighted only occasionally as he resisted the tempting but dangerous urge to lift the Bangladesh spin bowlers over the short boundaries at Fatullah Stadium.
If Australia's spirits were lifted by Gilchrist's fighting ton, they were upgraded to hopeful when Australia finally clicked in the field.
With slow-pitch specialist Gillespie thrown the new ball, he and Lee both looked immediately more in tune with the dry conditions.
Lee was fast and threatening early but only after watching Shane Warne and Matt Hayden both miss two slip chances did he finally pick up his first wicket of the game, upending the off stump of first innings centurion Shahriar Nafees for 33 with a full inswinger nine overs into the Tigers' second dig.
Gillespie bowled superbly, varying his pace, swing and angle of delivery in yet another good showing on his favoured subcontinent.
The de-mulleted South Australian pocketed 20 wickets in Australia's historic Test series win in India in 2004-2005 and has been, along with Stuart MacGill, the side's best bowler in Dhaka.
Earlier, Australia had resumed in all sorts of strife on 6-144 and Gilchrist's 63-run partnership with Lee came to an end just four overs into the day.
Gillespie and Gilchrist teamed up for a crucial 73-run stand however, with the big bowler's telescopic front foot defence a good match for the spinners.
The Tigers' best bowler Mohammad Rafique finally got rid of Australia's resistance however, finishing with 5-62 from 33 overs.
The Daily Telegraph