Cricket: Dale strikes to revive Australia

Australia 156 West Indies' Board XI 1-3

THE FAST bowlers Adam Dale and Andy Bichel responded to an Australia batting failure with a spectacular new ball burst that put the visitors on level terms on the first day of their opening three-day tour match against the West Indies' Board XI yesterday, writes Craig Cozier from St John's.

At the close the Board XI were 1 for 3 in response to Australia's disappointing 156 all out at the Antigua Recreation Ground. Dale dismissed the left- handers Adrian Griffith and Wavel Hinds, both leg before wicket, while Bichel earned the wicket of the Board XI captain Stuart Williams to an edge to his opposite number, Shane Warne, at first slip. All three batsmen made ducks.

Australia, batting first on an overcast day after their stand-in captain, Warne, won the toss, were undone early by the fast bowler Pedro Collins, who removed Matthew Elliott and Justin Langer within three balls of each other. At lunch they had lost four wickets but Greg Blewett (52) and Ian Healy (33) repaired the damage in a stand worth 78. The 18-year-old left-arm spinner Ryan Hinds then hit back with 4 for 23 off 10 overs to wrap up the tourists' innings.

Scores, Digest, page 27