Haddin hundred gives Aussies the edge

Brad Haddin proved his class with an opening day century for Australia A against Scotland at the Grange to put his side in healthy shape at the close on day one.

Haddin held the innings together while wickets fell around him and finally found Peter Siddle as a long-term partner. The pair shared 118 for the sixth wicket to gradually shrug off the game Scotland attack.

Haddin was involved in a few decent partnerships as he quietly moved past his half-century. His team-mates squandered stands that could have developed, but Haddin stuck around and played his own game. Too many short balls allowed him to deal in boundaries and in the evening session he passed his century with 11 fours.

Siddle arrived at No. 7 and played the anchor while Haddin opened up his repertoire of strokes, scoring in all corners of the outfield with ease. Siddle reached his own half-century playing his favoured cut for four that also brought up the century partnership.

The stand finally asserted Australian authority on the day that had begun with Scotland - whose attack was missing Neil Carter, Kyle Coetzer and David Murphy - winning the toss and making early inroads with the ball. Openers Jordan Silk and Alex Doolan didn't hang around, Silk finding an outside edge from Gordon Goudie to Preston Mommsen at second slip and Doolan being clean bowled by Iain Wardlaw.

Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith set about repairing the early loss. Smith nudged the singles while his partner dealt in boundaries, punishing the occasional bad delivery. Khawaja looked comfortable as the Scottish bowlers struggled to adjust to the left-hander, and when he passed his half-century in 95 balls he looked like he could push on but edged Wardlaw to wicketkeeper Matthew Cross.

While Wardlaw and MacLeod took the spoils with two wickets each, it was Goudie who was the most impressive with just 13 runs coming off his first 13 overs, including 6 maidens and the early wicket. He also claimed two important catches. But the balance of the match changed the moment Haddin stepped to the crease.

Scotland were short in the spin department, with the experienced Majid Haq out with a hamstring injury. Both Matt Machan and Moneeb Iqbal had a trundle and ironically it was a short length delivery from the latter which eventually dislodged Haddin for 113. His eyes lit up when he went to pull and connected well but not out of the range of Mommsen at midwicket who took a great diving catch with two hands.