Australia in control despite Langer heartbreak

Australia has seized control after day two of the Third Test match against the West Indies at the Adelaide Oval today.

The day was highlighted with two amazing feats. One involved a legendary batsman, West Indian Brian Lara, who has taken top spot for the most number of Test runs ever (11,187), while another, Justin Langer, fell agonisingly short of his 23rd Test century.

Resuming overnight on 7/352, Lara wasted little time in overtaking the record previously held by former Australian captain Allan Border. Four overs later, however, a truly magnificent innings of 226 (off 298 balls) was all over when Glenn McGrath sent the off-stump cart-wheeling.

The tail wagged just enough to see the total over 400 before Shane Warne snared the wicket of Fidel Edwards (10). McGrath and Brett Lee both finished with three wickets each, while leg-spinner Stuart MacGill claimed two on the first day.

Australia in reply began like it was in one-day mode, openers Langer and Matthew Hayden had three overs to face before lunch and got stuck into the two overs bowled by Edwards plundering 23 runs.

After lunch the precession of runs continued as both openers marched close to the fifty. Hayden (47) though attempted to pass 50 first only to find Windies captain Shivnarine Chanderpaul diving at cover.

The run-rate at the dismissal of Hayden was sitting pretty at 5.61, however the advantage of quick-fire runs came to a grinding halt as Ricky Ponting patiently carved out 56 (off 122 balls) of the 114 runs for the 37-over second wicket partnership with Langer.

It took an inswinger by Dwayne Bravo, and some thinking time by umpire Aleem Dar, to finally see the back of Ponting - out lbw attempting a pull shot. Desperate to get the ton up Langer almost had Brad Hodge run out.

The final over of play saw Langer glove the ball through to keeper Denesh Ramdin and Edwards the last laugh.

Full scorecard available here.

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