Australian batsman David Warner scored the slowest Test century of his career but he hailed his 123-run innings against Bangladesh on Wednesday as the best knock of his life so far.
Warner, whose career average strike rate is over 77, played 234 balls to end the innings with a strike rate of just over 52 but his effort put Australians in an advantageous position in their must win game at Chittagong.
Warner struck just seven fours, least in the 20 innings he made over 100 but his six-hour long innings helped Australia ending the third day on 377-9, replying hosts 305 in the first innings.
In the first Test at Dhaka, where the hosts won the match by 20 runs, Warner played a dogged 112-run innings in their second innings on an extremely difficult pitch that was providing a lot of turn and awkwardness for batsmen.
The 30-year old batsman had termed that innings as his career best but he changed his mind after scoring another hard-working ton in demanding conditions.
‘I think from a patience point of view, definitely,’ said Warner when asked whether his Chittagong’s innings was better than that of Dhaka.
‘I always talk about trying to bat long periods for time in these conditions and by far that’s the hottest I’ve ever played in. it was quite challenging to be out there,’ said the Australian vice-captain.
Warner became the 13th Australian player to make 20 centuries or more but he said more than the landmark and playing the innings of his life he was more satisfied to make a contribution for the side.
‘I think I’ve spoken to you before about it. Individual rewards you probably look back and reflect on when you finish,’ he said. ‘At the moment, it’s about doing my best and put numbers on the board for the team. Any chance you get to raise the bat for your country is an amazing achievement in itself.
‘It makes it sweeter when you’re winning as well. I’ll probably sit back in a few years and reflect on what I’ve achieved. But as I always say, it’s about what we’re trying to achieve as a team, that’s the no.1 priority.’
Australia’s team-effort was evident as Peter Handscomb tried to snatch a quick single when Warner was 99 but an excellent throw of Sakib al Hasan sent Handscomb to pavilion for 82 and break their 152-run stand.
Warner hailed his partner for his selflessness.
‘As I said to him in the change rooms, it’s one of those things where you try and help your team-mate out.’
Although the condition was tough to score runs even for an aggressive batsman like him but Warner thought the pitch was not really deteriorating and if Bangladesh batsman can apply themselves in the second innings they may make a turnaround.
‘I wouldn’t say the wicket is deteriorating, there’s a little bit of rough out there created from the bowlers. The middle of the wicket is still nice and true.
‘But it’s upon the batsmen obviously to work out what they want to do, if you want to sweep, if you want to lunge forward and negate that. There’s going to be plans both sides.’
-With New Age input
