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Labuschagne hits 154 as the hosts control WI

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PERTH: Marnus Labuschagin broke an unbeaten masterful 154 as Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith hit 50s as dominant Australia dominated the opening Test against the West Indies at Perth Stadium on Wednesday.

The hosts reached 293-2 at stumps on the first day after captain Pat Cummins decided to bat in the hot and dry conditions.

The total was built from the back of the 142-run stand between Labuschagne and Khawaja, who combined after David Warner was out for five, then an unbeaten 142 with Smith.

Concentrated Labuschagny, who escaped chances on 75 and 137, spawned an eighth century in his 29th Test and with Smith in form unbeaten on 59, the omens are not good for the visitors, who have failed to win a Test in Australia for 25 years.

“When you finish the day at about 300 for two, you feel relaxed. It was good to build partnerships throughout the day,” Labouchagne said.

“To score a hundred Tests at any one time is amazing, so hopefully being able to do that in the first Test of the summer can prepare you for this game, as well as the summer.

He added, “It was all about the process, build the whole game around it and not worry about anything else.”

The West Indies had plenty of discipline in front of just 10,929 spectators, but chances were few and far between.

After taking Warner’s early wicket for five, they had to toil for hours in the heat for another carry, as Khawaja amassed 65 before he edged Kyle Myers off Joshua da Silva just before lunch.

“We played well in bursts, but we didn’t get breaks,” said West Indies coach Phil Simmons.

“We’ll look to get a couple of wickets early tomorrow and try to tie them up again that way. Even if they get 450 we’re still in it because I think the wickets look like they could improve.”

Labushagne and Khawaja came together after Warner fell to young peacemaker Jayden Sales, barely missing a foot.

They had to work hard in the opening session of the first test between the two sides for nearly seven years, reaching 72-1 at lunch.

But they accelerated after the break with Labuschagne bringing up his 50 with a three off Jason Holder.

He was soon followed by the faultless Khawaja, who has been a rock at the top of the order this year, cracking spinner Roston Chase for four and then a single to reach his half-century of 18th in his 52nd Test. Khawaja has scored four Test centuries and reached the 90s twice in the last 12 months, with more glory to come.

But he was undone by a sweet delivery from Myers, which clipped the outside edge of his racket and was an easy catch for Da Silva.

Undeterred, Labuschagne hit three figures off 192 balls, to make his target with his 13th boundary.

Smith returned to the traditional batting style that saw him score 94 and an unbeaten 80 in Australia’s final one-day series against England, and he again looked in fine form.

Scoreboard

Australia won the toss

Australia’s first matches

David B Sales 5

Usman J Da Silva B Myers 65

154- Healing the heart

59- Do not regret

Extras: (b 5, lb 1, nb 2, w 2) 10

Total: 90 over 293/2

Not hit yet: Head, Green, Carey†, Cummins (c), Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood

Falling wickets: 1-9, 2-151

Bowling: Roach 18-3-59-0, Seals 14-3-63-1, Joseph 15-3-46-0, Myers 11-2-24-1, Holder 16-6-29-0, Chase 15- 2-63-0, Brathwaite 1-0-3-0

West Indies Team: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva†, Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales

Referees: Richard Illingworth, Rod Tucker

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