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First Grader
Hayden hits more records
From Greg Buckle in St John's, Antigua
MATTHEW Hayden smashed a record-breaking 158 before rain ended play early in Australia's World Cup Super Eight clash with host West Indies today in Antigua.
Brian Lara's Windies will have to wait until tomorrow to chase Australia's 6-322 after the home side did not get to face a ball because of heavy rain.
Hayden's 143-ball knock, his ninth limited-overs century and third in five innings, included 14 fours and four sixes in the first international match played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
His 158 is the highest World Cup score by an Australia player, beating the 143 not out by Andrew Symonds against Pakistan in South Africa in 2003.
Hayden also posted the ninth-highest World Cup score on a list headed by Gary Kirsten's 188 not out for South Africa against United Arab Emirates in 1996.
The big Queenslander smashed a 66-ball hundred last week against South Africa in St Kitts, the fastest century by any player in a World Cup match.
But Hayden faced a totally different challenge today, showing all his powers of concentration on a slow-paced pitch in overcast conditions, in stark contrast to the run-friendly and sun-drenched St Kitts pitch.
Hayden took 19 balls to score his first run today and reached his hundred off 110 balls with eight fours and one six.
The 35-year-old left hander broke a toe while scoring a national record 181 not out against New Zealand last month.
After missing the two World Cup warm-up games, he has made 60, 29, 101 and 158 in the tournament.
Sent in to bat in overcast conditions at the new Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, the Australia opening batsmen struggled early.
Adam Gilchrist fell for 7 with the score on 10 and skipper Ricky Ponting was run out for 35.
Michael Clarke, with two scores in the 90s already in the tournament, scored a brisk 41 in a 98-run stand with Hayden before Clarke was leg-before to Dwayne Bravo at 3-174.
Andrew Symonds looked uncomfortable on the slow-paced pitch and was out for 13 while Mike Hussey, who has failed in four attempts to reach double figures at this World Cup, scored 9.
Hayden reached his 150 with a six over long-on in the 46th over and repeated the shot in the 47th, in an over interrupted by a rain break.
He holed out to long-off in the 48th over.
Shane Watson, groomed as an opening batsman but currently forced to bat at No.7, displayed some of his big-hitting prowess with 33 not out off 26 balls.
Australia coach John Buchanan paid tribute to Hayden and said the efforts of Clarke and Ponting were also important today.
"We don't make 320 without some other contributions along the way," he said.
"We saw Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting with small innings but they were all partnerships and Shane Watson at the end did a fantastic job for us."
From Greg Buckle in St John's, Antigua
MATTHEW Hayden smashed a record-breaking 158 before rain ended play early in Australia's World Cup Super Eight clash with host West Indies today in Antigua.
Brian Lara's Windies will have to wait until tomorrow to chase Australia's 6-322 after the home side did not get to face a ball because of heavy rain.
Hayden's 143-ball knock, his ninth limited-overs century and third in five innings, included 14 fours and four sixes in the first international match played at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground.
His 158 is the highest World Cup score by an Australia player, beating the 143 not out by Andrew Symonds against Pakistan in South Africa in 2003.
Hayden also posted the ninth-highest World Cup score on a list headed by Gary Kirsten's 188 not out for South Africa against United Arab Emirates in 1996.
The big Queenslander smashed a 66-ball hundred last week against South Africa in St Kitts, the fastest century by any player in a World Cup match.
But Hayden faced a totally different challenge today, showing all his powers of concentration on a slow-paced pitch in overcast conditions, in stark contrast to the run-friendly and sun-drenched St Kitts pitch.
Hayden took 19 balls to score his first run today and reached his hundred off 110 balls with eight fours and one six.
The 35-year-old left hander broke a toe while scoring a national record 181 not out against New Zealand last month.
After missing the two World Cup warm-up games, he has made 60, 29, 101 and 158 in the tournament.
Sent in to bat in overcast conditions at the new Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, the Australia opening batsmen struggled early.
Adam Gilchrist fell for 7 with the score on 10 and skipper Ricky Ponting was run out for 35.
Michael Clarke, with two scores in the 90s already in the tournament, scored a brisk 41 in a 98-run stand with Hayden before Clarke was leg-before to Dwayne Bravo at 3-174.
Andrew Symonds looked uncomfortable on the slow-paced pitch and was out for 13 while Mike Hussey, who has failed in four attempts to reach double figures at this World Cup, scored 9.
Hayden reached his 150 with a six over long-on in the 46th over and repeated the shot in the 47th, in an over interrupted by a rain break.
He holed out to long-off in the 48th over.
Shane Watson, groomed as an opening batsman but currently forced to bat at No.7, displayed some of his big-hitting prowess with 33 not out off 26 balls.
Australia coach John Buchanan paid tribute to Hayden and said the efforts of Clarke and Ponting were also important today.
"We don't make 320 without some other contributions along the way," he said.
"We saw Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting with small innings but they were all partnerships and Shane Watson at the end did a fantastic job for us."
