A record-breaking batting assault by David Warner bookended by Matt Renshaw’s maiden century has propelled Australia into a commanding position over Pakistan on Tuesday (January 3) in the third and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
At Stumps on Day 1, Australia are 365 for 3, with Renshaw unbeaten on 167 and Peter Handscomb not out on 40. Two months shy of his 21st birthday, Renshaw became the sixth youngest Australian to score a Test century. During a 151-run opening stand, the Queenslander was the perfect foil for a rampaging Warner, who smashed a mesmerising 95-ball 113, marked by 17 brutal boundaries.
After Steve Smith, the Australia captain, won the toss and elected to bat on a flat SCG pitch, Warner eviscerated a listless Pakistani bowling attack to become just the fifth batsman to score a century before lunch on the opening day of a Test and the first to do so in Australia. Warner notched up his 18th Test century – his second in consecutive knocks – in the last over before lunch bringing the SCG faithful to its collective feet.
Warner reached the long break unbeaten on 100 from 78 balls – the fastest ever ton at the SCG breaking his own landmark, which he had achieved 12 months ago against the West Indies, whom he pulverised a century off 82 deliveries.
Sensing Pakistan’s frailties after their final day capitulation in Melbourne, Warner attacked from the get go, smashing the wayward bowling continually to the boundary during a white hot innings, where fumes were seemingly coming off his imperious blade.
Warner bullied Mohammad Amir and, particularly, recalled quick Imran Khan as he smashed eight boundaries in his first 23 balls. After six overs, Australia were rampant at 40 for no loss – Warner astonishingly had scored 38 of them.
In a notable contrast to Warner’s frenetic batting, Renshaw underwent a more sedate approach but, impressively, he didn’t appear unsettled and was intent on keeping his wicket intact. Continuing on from his match-turning century in Melbourne, Warner flayed Pakistan’s toothless attack and pounced on an abundance of wayward bowling.
Approaching Lunch, with Warner eyeing the record books, the crowd wanted to be part of history and were hollering for the vice-captain to be on strike. As the long break agonisingly neared, Renshaw seemingly was the only roadblock for Warner’s historic feat as pressure mounted on the youngster to rotate the strike – something he notoriously struggled with during an excruciating stretch of 21 consecutive balls.
Eventually, Warner re-wrote the record books and became the first batsman in more than 40 years to score a century in the Test’s opening session. At Lunch, Warner had astonishingly scored 100 of Australia’s 126 runs without loss.
There was much anticipation that Warner could continue his blistering batting after Lunch. Such was Warner’s allure that the commentators were making enquiries over the most runs scored by a batsman in one day. However, shortly after the 40-minute break, Warner’s innings ended tamely, when he was caught behind trying to hit Wahab Riaz to third man.
Impressively, Renshaw, who has faced some criticism over a sedate approach during his fledgling career, ensured momentum was not lost by settling into a nice rhythm. The cheap wickets of Usman Khawaja (13) and Steve Smith (24) failed to derail an increasingly confident Renshaw, who registered a memorable maiden century.
Unlike Warner, Renshaw was intent on a big score as he suddenly scored with ease, and his third fifty was achieved at a run-a-ball pace. Demonstrating his precocious talents, Renshaw started skipping down the pitch to curtail legspinner Yasir Shah, who was extracting some spin, and succeeded with aplomb on numerous occasions.
However, there was a moment of trepidation when he was felled by Mohammad Amir’s searing bouncer on 91. Fortunately, Renshaw was able to continue batting and shortly after, notched his ton. Renshaw also had an anxious moment when he was trapped in front by Yasir but the decision was overturned on review.
Renshaw found a willing partner in Handscomb, who is on the verge of completing a fourth consecutive Test where he makes a fifty. The Victorian was content with rotating the strike, knowing his partner was in a rich vein of form. The pair ensured Australia built on Warner’s heroics and continued the groundswell of momentum fueling the home team.
Seemingly going through the motions with the match being a dead rubber, Pakistan were rudderless and their rot was highlighted early when Misbah-ul-Haq embarrassingly misfielded in the third over, with the ball going straight through him at covers.
After the miraculous ending in Melbourne, one can never feel confident foreshadowing Tests but it is hard to see Pakistan climbing out of the abyss.
Brief Scores: Australia 365/3 (Matt Renshaw 167*, David Warner 113; Wahab Riaz 2-63) v Pakistan.
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