PORT-OF-SPAIN, March 5: Australia battled testing West Indian bowling and struggled to 51 for two at lunch on the opening day of the first Test at the Queen's Park Oval today.The visitors, batting after winning the toss, had numerous alarms as the new ball pair of Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose found the grassy Oval pitch to their liking. Walsh and Ambrose, who together have accounted for 747 wickets in 192 Tests, went past both opening batsmen's edges more than a dozen times in the opening half hour.But Michael Slater and his partner Matthew Elliott survived that period. They saw off the experienced duo before they were separated by first change fast bowler Pedro Collins, on his debut, after reaching 42.Slater made 23 before he swung a catch straight down long leg's lap off a wayward delivery from the left-armer Collins. Slater batted 61 minutes, faced 48 balls and counted one of only two boundaries hit across the sluggish outfield.Elliott and fellow left-hander Justin Langer added just nineruns in 13 overs before Langer fell minutes before the interval.Recalled for a second spell from the Pavilion end, Walsh found Langer's edge through to the wicketkeeper first ball delivered from around the wicket. Langer struggled during 36 balls and 54 minutes for his five runs.ScoreboardAustralia (1st innings): Michael Slater c Dillon b Collins 23, Matthew Elliott batting 15, Justin Langer c Jacobs b Walsh 5, Mark Waugh batting 0; Extras (lb8): 8. Total (for two wickets): 51Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-51.Bowling: Walsh 8-5-11-1, Ambrose 9-5-10-0, Collins 8-4-13-1, Dillon 4-2-9-0. (Scoreboard incomplete)
