Lyon ‘pretty proud’ after claiming 100th Test wicket on Australia soil

Batsman Kraigg Braithwaite becomes the Austrtalia spinner's 100th victim on Australia soil as West Indies end rain-interrupted Day 1 of the third Test in Sydney on 207 for six.

Australia's Nathan Lyon, centre, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of West Indies batsman Kraigg Brathwaite during their cricket Test match in Sydney, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. Brathwaite's wicket was Lyon's 100 test wicket. Rob Griffith / AP PhotoShow less

SYDNEY // Nathan Lyon claimed his 100th Test wicket in Australia with the dismissal of top-scoring opener Kraigg Brathwaite late on the opening day of the rain-hit third Test against the West Indies in Sydney.

Brathwaite had defied Australia’s bowlers and two rain delays before he gave away his wicket late on Sunday to Lyon for 85.

Brathwaite, one of the few shining lights in a dismal Windies tour with 94 in the first Hobart Test, was in sight of his fifth Test century before he fell to Lyon.

It gave the Australia off-spinner his 100th Test wicket in Australia and 184th overall.

At the close, after 75 overs were squeezed in around two lengthy rain interruptions, the West Indies were 207 for six with Denesh Ramdin on 23 and Carlos Brathwaite belting two sixes and four fours in his unbeaten 35 after winning the toss.

“I’m pretty proud of that. It’s a pretty big achievement for myself. I knew I was close, but I didn’t know the exact number,” Lyon said of his century of home Test wickets.

“It’s a big challenge for me, it’s spinning pretty big and it’s got decent bounce. It’s a challenge for me to try and hit the stumps. I’m enjoying that challenge right now.”

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Australia have already retained the Frank Worrell Trophy after huge wins in the first two Tests and are chasing a 3-0 series clean sweep.

Brathwaite, who along with Darren Bravo has been the best-performing batsman in the series for the struggling visitors, was deceived by Lyon’s extra bounce as he attempted to steer the ball past slip but instead he dollied a catch off his glove to Steve Smith at slip.

Brathwaite’s dismissal was quickly followed by the wicket of captain Jason Holder, who was instinctively caught by Joe Burns at short leg for one off left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe.

Brathwaite watched four batting partners come and go as Australia used two recognised spinners in Lyon and O’Keefe for the first time in a home Test for a decade.

Shai Hope, recalled for injured opener Rajendra Chandrika, began positively with some crisp drives but fell in the fifth over.

Josh Hazlewood got him to prod outside the off-stump and he was snapped up by Peter Nevill for nine.

Brathwaite put on 91 runs for the second wicket with Darren Bravo before Bravo was out in the third over after lunch for 33.

James Pattinson dug one in and Bravo top-edged to Usman Khawaja at backward square leg.

Marlon Samuels was run out in a dreadful mid-pitch mixup with Brathwaite before the first rain interruption in the afternoon session.

Samuels, who has scored a total of 35 runs in five innings in the series, hit towards point and darted off for a run only to stop in the middle of the pitch.

Brathwaite had dropped his bat before retreating to his end and Samuels was stranded by Hazlewood’s throw to the striker’s end.

“I think those things happen in cricket. I’m not sure what to say about that,” Brathwaite said. “It was just a misunderstanding.”

To compound Samuels’s woes, rain immediately forced the players from the field and kept them off until tea was taken.

Upon resumption Jermaine Blackwood misjudged Lyon’s turn and was bowled off-stump for 10 after not offering a shot.

Chandrika injured his groin in the morning warm-up, after leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo hurt his shoulder on the morning of the second Melbourne Test.

The West Indies, who are playing in their first Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 15 years, have not won a Test in Australia since 1997.

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