But it was the Pakistan batsmen, who failed to capitalise on the bowlers’ good performance as they managed under 41 overs before being bowled out. Watson, helped by overcast conditions, took five wickets for the first time in his career.
Only Salman Butt offered any resistance as he made 63 runs while the Pakistan captain managed a brief cameo of 31 off just 15 deliveries. Afridi, playing Twenty20-style, hit four boundaries and two sixes before Watson had him caught by Mitchell Johnson.
His dismissal was immediately described as a “disgrace” by commentators with former Australian captain Ian Chappel saying, “When you make a fool out of yourself with the bat, it’s pretty hard to have an authority on the field.”
Debutants Azhar Ali and Umar Amin managed 16 and one respectively before Pakistan succumbed in familiar fashion against a moving ball.
Ben Hilfenhaus started the rout, dismissing opener Imran Farhat and Azhar Ali before Johnson dismissed Amin to reduce Pakistan to 75 for four.
Watson then took over as he dismissed the dangerous Umar Akmal before trapping elder brother Kamran leg-before as well. One would have hoped Afridi to play with some maturity, who failed to shift gears from the Twenty20 mode, as he hit Watson all over the park, before he holed out.
The tail failed to wag as Butt held his end together. The left-hander continued with his good run with the bat as he made his ninth Test half-century before Doug Bollinger cleaned up the tail and Watson sending Butt back to the pavilion.
With a lead of 105, Watson proved to be Pakistan’s nemesis again as he hit four boundaries and a six as Australia reached 61. But Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul took two wickets each as Pakistan ended the day in a slightly better position.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2010.
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