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Australia dominates on day one

Simon Katich scores an unbeaten century

ST. JOHN’S (Antigua): Simon Katich hit an unbeaten 113 and Ricky Ponting became the seventh player to score 10,000 runs as Australia reached 259 for three against the West Indies on day one of the second cricket Test at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Friday.

Left-hander Katich batted the entire day for his third Test century, including nine fours off 241 balls.

Ponting scored 65, reaching the 10,000-run mark just before he was dismissed.

Century stand

He and Katich shared a second-wicket stand of 136 that gave Australia the edge after it won the toss on a placid pitch.

Darren Sammy (one for 31), Jerome Taylor (one for 43) and Dwayne Bravo (one for 56) were the successful bowlers.

Ponting came to the crease when Phil Jaques fell at 36 for one midway through the first session.

Jaques was leg before to Bravo for 17 as he played across an inswinger.

Ponting and Katich, under pressure after a double failure in the first Test, took the visitor to lunch at 70 for one.

The partnership blossomed after the interval and both players brought up half-centuries as Australia dominated the second session. Ponting reached the milestone just after tea.

The home team enjoyed its best spell of the day, and Fidel Edwards should have dismissed both Michael Hussey and Katich in successive overs but catches were dropped.

Hussey deflected an unconvincing hook and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin failed to hold on.

Katich was 90 when he swatted to backward point where Runako Morton grassed a simple offering.

But Katich soon passed three figures for the first time since March 2005.

Clarke batted beautifully in compiling an undefeated 38 off 50 balls with five fours. — AP

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