Lehmann triple-century drives Redbacks
Darren Lehmann showed his hunger for runs had not disappeared with his international career when he struck a brilliant triple-century
Cricinfo staff
15-Nov-2005
Western Australia 5 for 96 (Rofe 3-12) trail South Australia 7 for 552 dec (Lehmann 301*, Cosgrove 89, Manou 54, Dorey 4-104) by 456 runs
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Darren Lehmann showed his hunger for runs had not disappeared with his international career when he struck a brilliant triple-century against Western Australia. Bringing up the mark with a six over midwicket, Lehmann joined David Hookes, his friend and former South Australia team-mate who died in 2003, in reaching the milestone on their home ground.
Lehmann declared immediately to finish on a career-best 301 in a 400-ball innings that included 38 fours and three sixes. Incredibly, Lehmann did not offer a chance as he propelled South Australia, whose batting order regularly collapsed when he was on international duty last season, to an intimidating 7 for 552 and by the close his bowlers had matched the damage.
Beginning day two on 95, Lehmann posted his century in the first over of the morning and then needed only 40 balls to raise his 150 before resting on 185 at lunch. After collecting his double-century, the 10th of his career, he shed a more considered approach and blasted 116 from 87 deliveries in the session, passing his previous highest first-class score of 255 against Queensland at Adelaide in 1996-97.
Marcus North, the Western Australia captain, tried to stop the strong flow of runs but despite placing men to cover the short square boundaries they were usually beaten when the bowlers missed their mark. Graham Manou supported his captain with 54 while Cameron Borgas and Cullen Bailey also made useful contributions against a side missing the hamstring-injured Brad Williams. Brett Dorey was the most successful of the visiting bowlers with 4 for 104 while Mathew Inness picked up two victims.
South Australia gained an even stronger advantage before tea when Paul Rofe dismissed Chris Rogers fending and trapped Murray Goodwin lbw. Rofe returned the spectacular figures of 3 for 12 off 12 overs by stumps, having also dismissed North as the Warriors crawled to 5 for 96.