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Voges ton puts Australia on top

Jun 05, 2015
Adam Voges (left) celebrates his century with Josh Hazlewood.

Adam Voges (left) celebrates his century with Josh Hazlewood.

That was worth the wait.

After 160 first-class matches over 12 years, Adam Voges finally got his chance at Test cricket and on Thursday he made it count.

The 35-year-old became the 20th man to score a century on debut for Australia as he made a crucial 130 not out in Australia’s first innings 318 against the West Indies in Dominica.

He also became the oldest century-making debutant in the history of the game, eclipsing the record held by Zimbabwean Dave Houghton, who scored 121 against India in 1992, also at the age of 35 but 125 days younger than Voges at the time.

By stumps on day two the hosts were 2-25, still trailing Australia by 145 runs.

Mitchell Johnson (1-11) removed Shai Hope for two thanks to another fantastic slips catch by Michael Clarke before a superb Mitchell Starc (1-6) delivery clean bowled Kraigg Brathwaite (15).

Earlier in the day, Voges was powerless as Australia stumbled to 6-126 in reply to the Windies’ first innings of 148 with leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo (6-80) claiming 3-25 in a nine-over spell.

That effort included one ripping leg-break to bowl Brad Haddin (8) that evoked the memory of Shane Warne’s “ball of the century” against England which occurred 22 years ago to the day.

But that was as good as it got for the Windies.

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Voges combined with Johnson (20), Nathan Lyon (22) and Josh Hazlewood (39) to add 192 for the last four wickets and lift Australia’s lead to an imposing 170 runs.

His 97-run stand with Hazlewood was particularly impressive, allowing him to reach three figures.

The milestone came just before tea with a simple nudge off his hips to square leg.

As he took off for the single his arms shot up in the air and he roared in delight, before removing his helmet and saluting all parts of Windsor Park.

Voges’ impressive knock featured 13 fours and one six, a mighty blow which took him to 98 the over before reaching his ton.

Hazlewood, who took three wickets in Australia’s demolition of the Windies in the first dig, hit five fours and a six in his impressive knock.

– AAP

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