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Warne and MacGill send world all-stars into a spin
by AFP


Ground:Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Player:SCG MacGill, SK Warne
Event:Johnnie Walker Super Series 2005/06

DateLine: 15th October 2005

 

Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill bamboozled the world all-stars with their tandem leg-spin attack to give Australia a vice-like grip on the Super Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

 

SCG specialist MacGill captured 4-39 off 9.1 overs and Warne 3-23 from 12 overs as the Australians skittled the world's best for 190 to seize a 155-run innings lead.

 

On an eventful second day's play, 15 wickets fell -- leaving the real prospect that the Super Test would finish before its scheduled sixth day.

 

At the close, Australia were 66 for one and had built their lead to 221 runs with nine wickets in hand and four days left for a result.

 

First-innings centurion Matthew Hayden, maintaining his patient batting policy, was unbeaten on 27 in 95 minutes with skipper Ricky Ponting not out 17.

 

Justin Langer, out on the third ball in the first innings, lasted 33 balls before he edged Jacques Kallis's fourth delivery to Graeme Smith at first slip for 22.

 

Warne, coming off his 40 wicket-haul in the recent Ashes series in England, struck three times in the middle session, claiming the wickets of Virender Sehwag (76), Kallis (44) and Mark Boucher (0).

 

MacGill, unused in all five Ashes Tests, mopped up the brittle world resistance with the last three wickets, including Andrew Flintoff (35) to further enhance his glowing reputation on his home pitch.

 

Warne removed danger man Sehwag in his fourth over after the free-spirited Indian opener looked primed for his 11th century in his 36th Test.

 

Simon Katich latched onto a splendid reflex catch at short square leg to send Sehwag on his way after an innings studded with 14 boundaries off just 82 balls.

 

MacGill had Inzamam-ul-Haq stumped for one after the Pakistani Test captain over-balanced when playing forward and was unable to get his back foot inside the crease in time.

 

Kallis succumbed to a great low catch by Hayden at slip off a Warne leg-break for 44, and Boucher feathered another Warne leg-break to Gilchrist for a two-ball duck.

 

Earlier, Australia's Glenn McGrath became the greatest wicket-taking paceman in Tests with the prized wicket of West Indian superstar Brian Lara for five before lunch.

 

McGrath moved past West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh (519) with the wickets of new Indian skipper Rahul Dravid (0) and Lara to lift his Test tally to 520 in his 113th Test.

 

Warne is the leading Test wicket-taker with 626 ahead of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (560), who took two wickets in Australia's first innings here.

 

Brett Lee started proceedings when he had world skipper Graeme Smith top-edging to Gilchrist for 12.

 

It was a stinging response after Ashes hero Flintoff had captured three wickets in three overs to terminate Australia's first innings.

 

The England all-rounder removed Gilchrist on his overnight score of 94 with the second ball of the day, depriving the Australian vice-captain of his 16th Test century.

 

Flintoff also claimed the wickets of Warne (5) and Lee (1) to finish with 4-59 off 18 overs.

 

The World XI claimed four wickets for 14 in five overs to stop Australia in their tracks after Hayden (111) and Gilchrist had the home side in a strong position at 331 for six at stumps Friday.

 

Australia swept to a 3-0 one-day series win over the world stars last week.

(Article: Copyright © 2005 AFP)

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