Watson stars in tour game by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	St Lawrence Ground, Canterbury
Player:	SR Watson, MEK Hussey, RT Ponting
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 16th August 2009

 

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson continued his good run with the bat hitting a scintillating 95 as Australia piled up runs against England Lions at Canterbury.

 

Watson smashed 95 from just 85 balls as Australia declared on 340-9 giving their bowlers nine overs at England before the close.

 

Michael Hussey was another star for the tourists as he and Watson added 87-runs. Skipper Ricky Ponting was the other major scorer with 45.

 

Australia did not start well losing Simon Katich early in the innings who hit a short ball straight to cover in the second over.

 

Ricky Ponting was then tested by a tricky new ball spell by Steve Kirby. The skipper though used all his experience and settled in for his 61-ball 45 as he and Watson added 74 in 15 overs.

 

The Lions were fortunate, too, with the manner of Ponting's dismissal, with the Aussie captain unluckily getting a faint touch to an attempted pull at a short legside ball from Chris Woakes.

 

Hussey then came to join Watson and the duo added 87 for the third wicket as the Australians went into lunch at 163 for two from just 29 overs.

 

Watson, on 92 at lunch, had scored only three more runs when he drove firm-footed at Plunkett and edged behind. His fine array of strokes included a six, pulled off Woakes, and 15 fours.

 

Then Marcus North was brilliantly caught at point by Michael Carberry, one of four catches he took in the ring, as he slashed at Kirby and thereafter both Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee fell cheaply to Gary Keedy's teasing left-arm spin.

 

After some late resistance from Hauritz and Peter Siddle, who added 40 before the declaration, there were nine overs for Sayers and Stephen Moore to negotiate - which they did safely at 23 for no wicket.