Clarke century steers Australia to 7-316

Saturday, 23 February 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

AAP: Michael Clarke was given a reprieve by India’s lack of faith in technology before reaching a magnificent century to lead Australia to 7-316 at stumps on day one of the first Test. Clarke will resume on Saturday on 103 from 169 deliveries with 11 fours and one six.

The tourists – who chose to bat first in a crumbling, spinning pitch in Chennai – stumbled to 5-153 after lunch on Friday. That was before debutant allrounder Moises Henriques played a mature hand of 68 and shared a 151-run stand with Clarke. Peter Siddle is one not out.

The day’s pivotal incident came when Clarke was on 39 in the penultimate over before tea. The right-hander appeared to give a bat-pad catch to short leg but the appeal from offspinner Ravi Ashwin (6-88) was turned down. The short-sighted decision by the India board to oppose the use of the decision-review system (DRS) has already proved costly in this series. It was Clarke’s 23rd hundred and ninth in 22 matches as captain and came with a stylish four to long-off in the second-last ball before stumps.