Marsh, Voges steady Aussies in tour game

They may well be fighting for the same Test spot but Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges have worked together for Australia in the three-day cricket match in Antigua.

The West Australian pair shared an unbroken 106-run stand to lift the tourists to 2-131 in reply to the WICB President’s XI’s 382 at tea on day two of the three-day match in Antigua.

Test incumbent Marsh, opening in the absence of rested David Warner, made the most of being dropped on four to reach 62no at the break while Voges was unbeaten on 50.

The pair came together with Australia 2-25 after Michael Clarke was dismissed for 15.

The Australian captain played a shot to forget off all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite, skying a pull shot off the toe of his bat to gully in an inglorious start to his Caribbean tour.

It continued a fine day for West Indies Test hopeful Brathwaite, who bludgeoned a quickfire half-century with the bat in the morning session and also took a stunning catch to remove Chris Rogers (2) before lunch.

Marsh, despite his early life, was largely unhurried throughout the afternoon session, reaching his 50 off 92 balls as he and Voges blunted the hosts’ spin options.

The 31-year-old even managed to belt a couple of sixes during the session, twice taking the spinners down the ground and over the ropes.

Voges, trying to secure a Test debut at 35, got himself bogged down on 13 for several minutes but recovered to end the session strongly.

His confidence growing, last summer’s Sheffield Shield leading run-scorer ended the session well and reached his own half-century off 95 balls.

Earlier, Peter Siddle (2-64) and Mitchell Marsh (2-40) sparked a collapse of 4-10 before Brathwaite’s 42-ball 50no lifted the hosts to 382.

Nathan Lyon eventually ended the innings with his second wicket, ensuring all five of Australia’s main bowlers picked up two wickets each.

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