Hayden strikes 158 before rain forces match into second day
By John Mehaffey
Guyana Chronicle
March 28, 2007
ST JOHN'S, Antigua (Reuters) - Opener Matthew Hayden scored his second World Cup century in a row yesterday before rain stopped play for the day after Australia had reached 322 for six in their Super Eight match against West Indies.
Hayden, who scored the fastest century in the tournament's history in Australia's final group match against South Africa last Saturday, reached 158 in an innings of massive authority.
He took 18 balls to get off the mark but still reached his third successive century against a Test nation from 110 balls in the first international to be staged at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
It was the highest innings by an Australian in the World Cup, surpassing Andrew Symonds' 143 not out against Pakistan four years ago.
Rain, which had interrupted the final stages of the Australia innings for 21 minutes, fell steadily throughout the interval and did not relent, forcing Pakistan umpires Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf to call play off for the day.
The match will resume today at 09:30 h (1330GMT) with West Indies chasing 323 to win from their full allocation of 50 overs.
The muscular Queenslander went on to full attack in the final five overs. He concentrated first on fast bowler Jerome Taylor, lofting a six over long-on, then a four over mid-off, followed by a massive heave over long-on from successive balls.
In the following over he late-cut Marlon Samuels to the boundary then struck the next ball over wide long-on for a further six.
By the time he was caught on the boundary, he had faced 143 balls with 14 fours and four sixes.
After Brian Lara had won the toss and elected to field, Hayden lost Adam Gilchrist, caught behind by Denesh Ramdin off Daren Powell for seven, in the fifth over.
Hayden added 66 for the second wicket with Ricky Ponting before the captain was run-out for 35 when Ramnaresh Sarwan hit the stumps with a direct throw from extra-cover at the bowler's end.
Hayden and Michael Clarke (41) put on 98 from 16.1 overs for the third wicket with the remaining batsmen playing supporting roles to one of the great World Cup innings.
AUSTRALIA innings
A. Gilchrist c wkp. Ramdin b Powell 7
M. Hayden c Samuels b Bravo 158
R. Ponting run-out (Sarwan) 35
M. Clarke lbw Bravo 41
A. Symonds c wkp. Ramdin b Samuels 13
M. Hussey b Powell 9
S. Watson not out 33
B. Hogg not out 5
Extras: (b-1, lb-9, w-8, nb-3) 21
Total: (6 wkts, 50 overs) 322
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-76, 3-174, 4-208, 5-234, 6-297.
Bowling: Powell 10-2-53-2, Taylor 10-0-67-0 (w-3), Collymore 10-0-56-0 (w-2), Gayle 4-0-29-0 (nb-2), Bravo 7-0-49-2 (w2), Samuels 9-0-58-1 (nb-1, w-2).