West Indies set 301 to win first Test after Head, Webster and Carey make half centuries
Bridgetown: The West Indies have been set a target of 301 to win the opening Test against Australia in Barbados after the visitors' middle order wrestled back momentum on day three.
Resuming on 4-92 with an 82-run lead, Australian duo Travis Head (61) and Beau Webster (63) knuckled down for a commanding 102-run partnership to take the game away from the West Indies.
The West Indies' terrible fielding in this Test was on display once again when Head was dropped on 21 by Justin Greaves at second slip early in the day. It was the home side's seventh dropped catch in the slips across the match.
Head and Webster's partnership was the first fifth-wicket century stand by an Australian pair in Tests since Mitch Marsh and Steve Smith put on 153 against Pakistan in Melbourne in 2023.
Webster continues to prosper at Test level and now has a very tidy return of 305 runs at 43.57 from eight innings.
Head was out LBW off Shamar Joseph before Webster was unlucky to be caught down the leg side to the same bowler, leaving Australia at 6-208.
Alex Carey pushed the game along by crunching a 40-ball half century, which included two big sixes down the ground.
There was a period in the middle session when Australia smashed 68 from 46 balls.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
25 minutes ago
- News.com.au
How Queensland toppled the mighty British and Irish Lions in 1971
With a pre-match steak from a local pub settling in their stomachs, hope in their eyes and will in their hearts, the 1971 Queensland rugby team played themselves into folklore by beating the British Lions 15-11 at Ballymore. Fifty-four years later Queensland will again play the Lions - on Wednesday at Suncorp Stadium. And each and every member of the current Reds side would do well to take the leaf out of the books from the class of '71 whose deeds against the odds reached sporting miracle status. Back in 1971 the Barry Honan-captained state side arrived at Ballymore for the midweek match after mustering for lunch at the Belfast Hotel where they ingested a steak, potato, salad and also a rousing pre-game speech from coach Bob Templeton. 'Tempo said they (the Lions) are expecting to beat us handsomely, but that this was a fantastic opportunity,'' skipped Honan recalled. 'He said you can play season long for your club and Queensland, but these one-off games, if we won, would be something people would remember for the rest of their lives.'' Queensland fullback Lloyd Graham, a field goal hero after his staggering 55m goal from an angle helped his side win, said while it was backs to the wall stuff, coach Templeton gave the team hope. 'Tempo said we are up against some pretty heavy stuff. But he virtually said if we all buckle down, we can make a game of this and possibly win,'' Graham said. 'We all looked at each other and thought 'that is ridiculous'. 'But by the time we got to Ballymore we had convinced ourselves that we were a chance. 'We couldn't wait to get on the field and see how good we could be. 'And we won it on defence. 'It was a funny thing. We were standing in the showers after the game and we could not believe what we had just done.'' Yet the day had started like any other for the players. Like any other Tom, Dick or Harry, the Queensland players had gone to their workplaces in the morning, unaware by day's end they would be sporting heroes. What a contrast it was for someone like skipper Honan. A schoolteacher, he took a maths class in the morning, but by day's end he was mobbed by a euphoric home crowd who had rushed onto the field to sweep the Queensland heroes away on an emotional magic carpet ride. 'We'd come from work that morning, had our big steak at the Belfast Hotel. We just arrived in individual cars and some of us, well, they tried to lock some of us out at the gate,'' Honan said, in reference to a gatekeeper not recognising one car load of players. The game was a pitched battle, which suited the Queensland forwards of the day just fine. Three penalty goals by winger Jeff McLean, a first half field goal by champion fullback Graham, and then a second, soaring 55m field goal in the second half by Graham was enough to give Queensland the win. It took tons of courage for Queensland to withstand the British battery, time and again, throughout the second half. A rallying Lions were coming to get Queensland in the second half and seemed certain to win, but they never did as the hometown heroes avoided capture due to their daring guts and desperation. After the match Lions captain John Dawes presented Barry Honan with the Lion that a British supporter had purchased in Singapore and handed to the Dawes so the side had a mascot for the tour. 'Up for grabs in the match was the Lion (mascot),'' Honan said. 'It was their official mascot and the idea was their captain John Dawes would present this Lion to the first team on tour to beat them on the tour of New Zealand or in their matches against Queensland and New South Wales. 'Well they did not know at the time that the Lion would last just one game after we had that historic victory.'' Graham believed the Queensland squad had been hardened by a long tour of New Zealand the year before. 'That was when we learnt a lot of things,'' he said. 'Our forwards toughened up. They realised how tough and how strong they had to be and how much defence we needed to do to improve. 'So it probably did not surprise me that we were capable of defending like we did that day against the Lions.'' In the Lions team were champions like Willie John McBride, Mike Gibson, David Duckham, Ian McLauchlan and captain Dawes. Queensland's win that day against the Lions, and then the Queenslanders 1980 victory over the All Blacks, are high tide moments in the code's history in this state. The living members of the Queensland side will be guest of the Australian Rugby Union at Wednesday's match. The Queensland team. Where are they now: 15. Lloyd Graham (GPS): A prodigious kicker, Graham has long retired from his work as an advertising executive and now lives in Brisbane's inner west. He was a big, strong fullback as a runner, but his kicking was out of this world. 'Against the Lions it did not surprise me to see the ball sailing back over my head after Lloydie kicked it,'' said Queensland captain Barry Honan. He kicked it a mile.'' 14. Jeff McLean (Brothers): Now deceased. McLean was 'the best winger in Australia at the time'' and the team goal kicker. 'He was internationally rated,'' Honan praised. 13. Alex Pope (Brothers): Still alive and living in Queensland, Pope was a tremendous defender, Although he had quick hands, it was his defence which stood out. Boy on boy, he was feared in defence. 12. Barry Honan (Brothers): Honan was the team's backline flagship, an Australian representative teammates looked up to. Lloyd Graham said of Honan: 'When I came into the team I said to myself 'stick around this bloke and he will make life easier for me'. Honan lives on the Sunshine Coast. 11. Richard Miller (University): Tall and athletic, Miller was a big winger for his era. He made the Brisbane U19 side after leaving school and improved with more experience. He lives locally in SEQ. 10. Geoff Richardson (Townsville): Living in Brisbane, dual international had no weaknesses in his game. He had played for NSW earlier in his career, but was in North Queensland when he was named for this match. He was simply a remarkable talent. 9. Mick Barry (Brothers): Now deceased, blindside specialist Barry 'was arguably the most underrated rugby player the country has ever seen,'' according to Honan. In his era were NSW champions John Hipwell and Ken Catchpole, so Barry played second fiddle. 'But in his own way he was every bit as good as them,'' Barry said. 'He won more games for Queensland and Brothers than anyone.'' 8. Keith Bell (University) A country boy from the Goondiwindi district, he was a Churchie boarder who played second row in the GPS First XV competition. He was a big, strong bloke, country tough who went on to play prop for Australia on a tour of the British Isles. He still lives on the Sunshine Coast. 7. Mick Flynn (Brothers) Tragically Mick Flynn died aged 23, but the Marist old boy was recognised as the finest flanker of his era. 'He had as much potential as any one around that time. He was a genuine athlete and a great loss. He would have played for Australia.'' 6. Rod Kelleher (Brothers) Kelleher currently lives in New Zealand. He was not a big bloke, but he had 'the heart of a Lion''. 'He was a bloke you learned to hate because he was always in your face tackling you,'' Graham recalled. Honan said Kelleher played above his weight and was a great teammate. 'He was a guts man with no fear,'' Honan said. 5. Stuart Gregory (University) Nick-named the Sandshoe, he lives around the corner from Graham in the inner west. A BBC old boy, he was an athlete who played many years for the Wallabies. He was not a big second rower, but he was a fine sportsman and a grand set piece performer. 4. Alan Skinner (Townsville) Whereabouts unknown, Skinner was named from the Queensland Country side. Like his second row mate Gregory, Skinner was no giant, but he was tall enough and a fine athlete with a high work rate. A former business executive, Skinner also represented NSW. 3. David Dunworth (Brothers) Now living on the Sunshine Coast, the Gregory Terrace old boy and former real estate agent had surprising speed for a big prop. 2. Mick Freney (Brothers) Freney was a noted improver the more his career unfolded. He was not a schoolboy prodigy - indeed he played Second XV at Nudgee - but the more he played, the better he got. 'To the point where he was good enough to play for Australia,'' Honan said. 1. Bruce Brown (University) An accountant, he was a front row tradesman notorious for his high work ethic. He was a veteran by the time the Lions match was played, having first represented Queensland in 1965. Reserves: Jules Guerassimoff (University) A breakaway still living locally, Guerassimoff was a magnificent competitor who was the elder statesman of the squad having first represented Queensland 10 years earlier. A Wallaby, he was a legend of his era, a hard worker who was a great mentor to younger players. Stan Pilecki (Wests) Now deceased, the ex-draftsman known as the 'Pole'' had broken into the Queensland side on the tour of New Zealand 12 months earlier. He was a front row giant, a man with hands the size of wicket keeper gloves who contributed in all forward phases. Honan described him as a player who would 'scare the life out of the opposition'' before a match even started. John Corness (Teachers-Norths) A farmer from New Zealand, Corness broke into representative football representing the Queensland Country side in 1968 and worked his way into the Queensland squad where he was a fine halfback. 'If Mick Barry was not around, he would have played a lot more for Queensland,'' praised Honan. David L'Estrange (Brothers) Still playing touch football, L'Estrange had lovely hands and good speed as a fullback and then as a centre. Nicknamed Lizard, he was a stylish player of his era who represented Queensland and Australia with distinction. He was also a noted defender. British Lions team: 15. R Hiller, 14. A Biggar, 13. J Dawes, 12. J Spencer, 11. D Duckman, 10. M. Gibson, 9 R Hopkins, 8. P Dixon, 7. F Slattery, 6. D Quinnell, 5. W McBridge, 4. G Brown, 3. F Lynch, 2. F Laidlaw, 1. J McLoughlin. Reserves: A Lewis, G Edwards, J Pullin, M Roberts
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
F1 practice makes perfect as Norris pips Piastri
McLaren wrapped up practice for the Austrian Grand Prix with Lando Norris leading Formula One pacesetter Oscar Piastri in another team one-two at the top of the time sheets ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Norris, second in the standings 22 points behind Piastri after 10 of the season's 24 races, lapped the Red Bull Ring with a best time of one minute 04.324 seconds - 0.118 quicker than his Australian teammate. Verstappen was 0.210 off the pace, with a big spin at the last corner at the end of the session. He was followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth. McLaren topped two of the three sessions, with Mercedes' George Russell fastest in the opening practice on Friday but sixth on Saturday that was much warmer - and getting hotter. "That's why it went a little bit belly-up for us. We were quite competitive until the end, and then you can see really it goes above a certain threshold of temperature and we lose performance," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television. "The McLarens in high-speed (corners) are going to be very difficult to match. "We changed the balance a bit yesterday and that was in a direction that wasn't so perfect. It came back more today, but then the track temperature developed so drastically during the session, we went from 33 degrees to 42 and that makes a big difference." Mercedes had Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli seventh, ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto completing the top 10. Norris was also fastest in Friday's second session and is looking determined after drawing a blank in Canada two weeks ago when he collided with Piastri. McLaren wrapped up practice for the Austrian Grand Prix with Lando Norris leading Formula One pacesetter Oscar Piastri in another team one-two at the top of the time sheets ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Norris, second in the standings 22 points behind Piastri after 10 of the season's 24 races, lapped the Red Bull Ring with a best time of one minute 04.324 seconds - 0.118 quicker than his Australian teammate. Verstappen was 0.210 off the pace, with a big spin at the last corner at the end of the session. He was followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth. McLaren topped two of the three sessions, with Mercedes' George Russell fastest in the opening practice on Friday but sixth on Saturday that was much warmer - and getting hotter. "That's why it went a little bit belly-up for us. We were quite competitive until the end, and then you can see really it goes above a certain threshold of temperature and we lose performance," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television. "The McLarens in high-speed (corners) are going to be very difficult to match. "We changed the balance a bit yesterday and that was in a direction that wasn't so perfect. It came back more today, but then the track temperature developed so drastically during the session, we went from 33 degrees to 42 and that makes a big difference." Mercedes had Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli seventh, ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto completing the top 10. Norris was also fastest in Friday's second session and is looking determined after drawing a blank in Canada two weeks ago when he collided with Piastri. McLaren wrapped up practice for the Austrian Grand Prix with Lando Norris leading Formula One pacesetter Oscar Piastri in another team one-two at the top of the time sheets ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Norris, second in the standings 22 points behind Piastri after 10 of the season's 24 races, lapped the Red Bull Ring with a best time of one minute 04.324 seconds - 0.118 quicker than his Australian teammate. Verstappen was 0.210 off the pace, with a big spin at the last corner at the end of the session. He was followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth. McLaren topped two of the three sessions, with Mercedes' George Russell fastest in the opening practice on Friday but sixth on Saturday that was much warmer - and getting hotter. "That's why it went a little bit belly-up for us. We were quite competitive until the end, and then you can see really it goes above a certain threshold of temperature and we lose performance," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television. "The McLarens in high-speed (corners) are going to be very difficult to match. "We changed the balance a bit yesterday and that was in a direction that wasn't so perfect. It came back more today, but then the track temperature developed so drastically during the session, we went from 33 degrees to 42 and that makes a big difference." Mercedes had Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli seventh, ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto completing the top 10. Norris was also fastest in Friday's second session and is looking determined after drawing a blank in Canada two weeks ago when he collided with Piastri. McLaren wrapped up practice for the Austrian Grand Prix with Lando Norris leading Formula One pacesetter Oscar Piastri in another team one-two at the top of the time sheets ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Norris, second in the standings 22 points behind Piastri after 10 of the season's 24 races, lapped the Red Bull Ring with a best time of one minute 04.324 seconds - 0.118 quicker than his Australian teammate. Verstappen was 0.210 off the pace, with a big spin at the last corner at the end of the session. He was followed by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton in fourth and fifth. McLaren topped two of the three sessions, with Mercedes' George Russell fastest in the opening practice on Friday but sixth on Saturday that was much warmer - and getting hotter. "That's why it went a little bit belly-up for us. We were quite competitive until the end, and then you can see really it goes above a certain threshold of temperature and we lose performance," Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff told Sky Sports television. "The McLarens in high-speed (corners) are going to be very difficult to match. "We changed the balance a bit yesterday and that was in a direction that wasn't so perfect. It came back more today, but then the track temperature developed so drastically during the session, we went from 33 degrees to 42 and that makes a big difference." Mercedes had Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli seventh, ahead of Aston Martin's Lance Stroll, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto completing the top 10. Norris was also fastest in Friday's second session and is looking determined after drawing a blank in Canada two weeks ago when he collided with Piastri.
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
British and Irish Lions suffer injury blow in 54-7 win over Western Force
Henry Pollock showcased his star potential, but scrum-half Tomos Williams was cut down by a hamstring injury as the British and Irish Lions posted a crushing 54-7 win over the Western Force in Perth. In their first match on Australian soil, the Lions ran in eight tries to one in front of 46,656 spectators on Saturday night to post the big win, but it came at a cost. Williams, a veteran of 65 Test caps with Wales, pinged his left hamstring while acrobatically diving in at the corner for his second try in the 47th minute. ABC Sport will have live blog coverage of the British and Irish Lions' tour of Australia this July and August. The 30-year-old looked despondent as he hobbled slowly off the field, with the Lions leading 26-7 at the time. The second half became a romp as the Lions flexed their muscles in a five-try blitz, but it was tough work in the first half as the Force came out firing. Wallabies winger Dylan Pietsch was near unstoppable in the first half, unleashing a series of dazzling line breaks to push his case for selection for the upcoming three-Test series. The Force dominated possession (60 per cent) and territory (67 per cent) in the first half, but it was the industrious work of Pollock that ensured the Lions still managed to take a 21-7 lead into half-time. Pollock, who at just 20 years of age is already being touted as a future superstar, produced a series of tackle-busting runs, one of which set up Williams for his first try. Lions coach Andy Farrell had labelled his team's 28-24 loss to Argentina in Dublin last week as unacceptable and it took just 96 seconds for his players to produce a strong response. The magical piece of play started and finished with skipper Dan Sheehan, who jumped in the air to catch a cross-kick and passed it off to teammate James Lowe before he even landed on the ground. Sheehan stayed in the play and received it back from Lowe to cross over for the opener. The Force hit back through Nic White courtesy of 19 phases of grit. The Lions did well to keep the Force at bay, and they went up 14-7 in the 17th minute when Pollock made a break and then offloaded while on the ground to set up Williams for a try. Pietsch's first-half efforts had the Lions on the back foot, but it was the tourists who landed another strike against the run of play when a quick tap from fly-half Finn Russell caught the Force napping. The ensuing try to fullback Elliot Daly gave the Lions a 21-7 lead in the 36th minute, but they were dealt a blow just seconds before half-time when Pollock was handed a yellow card for his team's accumulation of penalties. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Lions swung the ball the length of the field for Williams to touch down seven minutes into the second half. The Lions piled on another four tries to ensure their tour of Australia got off to a comprehensive winning start. They will be back in action on Wednesday night when they take on the Queensland Reds at Brisbane's Lang Park. AAP
