Perth: Opener David Warner brutalized India with a hurricane century as Australia took a giant step towards clinching the series on the first day itself after skittling out the visitors for a paltry 161 in the third cricket Test at WACA here on Friday.
Warner pulverised the Indian bowlers sending them on a leatherhunt as Australia smashed their way to 149 for no loss with only 12 short of surpassing India’s modest first innings score. At stumps, Warner was batting on 104 while Ed Cowan played the role of sheet anchor to perfection batting on 40.
Warner who gave an exhibition of how to play horizontal bat shots on a bouncy strip to score the fourth fastest century in the history of the game off just 69 balls. He reached the landmark with a huge six over long on off Vinay Kumar’s bowling.
Warner’s ton was the second fastest among Aussies after Adam Gilchrist hit a ton against England at this venue off only 57 balls.
The world record of fastest-ever century is held by Viv Richards who achieved the feat against England in Antigua in 1985-86.
With openers firing with such ferocity, Australia’s problems with its top-order appeared a thing of the past. The hosts look a team galloping towards regaining days of their former glory.
From the moment he punched the last delivery of Umesh Yadav’s first over past mid-off for a four, Warner was off the blocks in a flash as he ran like hare between wickets to completely deflate the visitors who were bundled out for just 161 runs.
Virat Kohli (44), Gautam Gambhir (31) and VVS Laxman (31) got the starts but none of them could hang around long enough in yet another abject batting surrender. (PTI)