November 09, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 27, 1428

BRISBANE, Nov 8: Phil Jaques hit a chancy maiden century as Australia moved into a strong position at 242 for three on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba here on Thursday.

Jaques made 100, supported by captain Ricky Ponting’s 56 and opener Matthew Hayden’s 43.

Mike Hussey, who was dropped on 13, was 28 not out and Michael Clarke was on five at stumps.

The Australian batsmen accepted the offer of bad light at 5.36pm with 11 overs remaining.

After winning the toss and bowling first on a green-looking pitch, Sri Lanka’s pacemen didn’t fire a shot early and it was left to champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan (2-67) to lead the attack after lunch.

Australia made a cautious start in a rain-affected first session.

Hayden dominated an opening partnership of 69, departing after lunch caught at cover off the bowling of Chaminda Vaas.

A nervous Jaques, playing his third Test and first since Justin Langer’s retirement, took 34 balls to get off the mark.

But the puzzling decision to leave the slinging pace sensation Lasith Malinga out of the Sri Lankan side played into Australia’s hands, with Vaas, Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Maharoof failing to capitalise on seam-friendly conditions.

Dropped catches didn’t help Sri Lanka’s cause either. Jaques was dropped at first slip off Muralitharan’s bowling on 60 and missed at cover with Maharoof the unlucky bowler four runs later.

The Wollongong left-hander passed his previous Test-best of 66 and was on 80 when Ponting was beaten by a Muralitharan doosra and stumped for 56 after a 114-run stand.

Looking uncomfortable against Muralitharan, Jaques gave a third chance to second slip on 90 but raised both arms in elation after cracking a short ball from Vaas through cover for four to reach his maiden century off 196 balls with 14 fours.

He was gone without addition to his score, stumped off Muralitharan as the crafty off-spinner took his 702nd career wicket, six behind Shane Warne’s world record.

Australia’s 398th Test player Mitchell Johnson, the left-arm quick from Townsville, received his baggy green cap from retired pace-bowling great Glenn McGrath in an on-field ceremony half an hour before play.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings):

P.A. Jaques st P. J’wardene b Murali 100

M.L. Hayden c Murali b Vaas 43

R.T. Ponting st P. J’wardene b Murali 56

M.E.K. Hussey not out 28

M.J. Clarke not out 5

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, NB-1) 10

TOTAL (for three wkts, 76 overs) 242

FALL OF WKTS: 1-69, 2-183, 3-216.

TO BAT: A. Symonds, A.C. Gilchrist, B. lee, M.G. Johnson, S.R. Clark, S.C.G. MacGill.

BOWLING (to-date): Vaas 16-4-44-1; Maharoof 21-6-48-0 (1nb); Fernando 16-1-74-0; Muralitharan 23-3-67-2.

SRI LANKA: S.T. Jayasuriya, M.S. Atapattu, M.G. Vandort, D.P.M.D. Jayawardene, L.P.C. Silva, T.T. Samaraweera, H.A.P.W. Jayawardene, M.F. Maharoof, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, M. Muralitharan, C.R.D. Fernando.

UMPIRES: A.L. Hill (New Zealand) and R.E. Koertzen (South Africa).

TV UMPIRE: P.D. Parker (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).—Agencies