Warner’s record hundred livens drawn Test

SYDNEY, CMC:

Opener David Warner stroked the fastest ever Test hundred at the Sydney Cricket Ground as the rain-ravaged third and final Test against West Indies predictably ended in a draw here yesterday.

With the adverse weather having allowed just 68 deliveries on the second day and then forced the abandonment of the third and fourth day, the result of the game was never really in doubt but Warner nonetheless put on a spectacle for the nearly 7 000 spectators who turned up.

The left-hander blasted his way to three figures off a mere 82 balls en route to an unbeaten 122 as Australia raced to 176 for two off just 38 overs in their first innings.Denesh Ramdin had earlier converted his overnight 30 into 62 as West Indies, resuming on 248 for seven, were dismissed for 330.

Warrican finished on 21 not out as West Indies passed 300 for the first time in the series.

Left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe (3-63) and off-spinner Nathan Lyon (3-120) picked up three wickets apiece while pacer James Pattinson ended with two for 76.

The Aussies had offered West Indies the chance to make a game of it. They proposed declaring their first innings without a run on the board in response to West Indies' overnight score of 248, allowing the visitors seven overs to make 121, and then attempting to chase down 370 off 70 overs for victory.Resuming their innings after the break, Australia were propelled by the robust Warner who smashed 11 fours and two sixes in an innings requiring 103 deliveries overall.

His first 50 came from 42 balls and arrived in an over from Warrican that leaked 16 runs, with two sixes - the first over long-on and the second over mid-wicket - and a four.

Warner lost Burns soon after to a catch at mid-on off Warrican but Warner remained unfazed, and brought up his second fifty off a mere 40 deliveries.

Rain forced an early tea break and left Warner stranded on 90 but he reached his landmark in the fourth over after the resumption when he swept Warrican fine for three runs.

He survived a chance on 106 to Holder at cover off part-time off-spinner Kraigg Brathwaite but Mitchell Marsh was not so fortunate in the following over when he top-edged a sweep at Warrican to Jermaine Blackwood at slip.

With the game wandering deep in the final session, Smith ended the innings and both captains shook hands.

Adam Voges was adjudged Man-of-the-Series for his 375 runs in two innings without being dismissed while Warner copped the Man-of-the-Match award for his record hundred.