Butt leads battle against Australia

LONDON: Salman Butt scored his second fifty of the match and remained unbeaten at the close of the third day to give Pakistan hope of a record-breaking win in the first Test against Australia at Lord’s.

Butt was 58 not out and Test debutant Azhar Ali 28 not out at the close with Pakistan needing a further 326 runs to reach their imposing goal of 440.

That would surpass the highest total ever scored in a fourth innings to win a Test of 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.

Pakistan’s equivalent best is the 315 for nine they made against Australia at Karachi in 1994 while the Lord’s landmark was set by the West Indies when compiling 344 for one against England in 1984.

Conditions were transformed on the third day as previously overcast, swing-bowler friendly skies, gave way to bright sunshine, with the pitch still a good one on which to bat.

Left-handed opener Butt, whose 63 was the top score in the first innings, added 50 for the first-wicket with Imran Farhat before Farhat miscued a pull off a Steven Smith long-hop to Shane Watson at mid-wicket to give the jubilant debutant his first Test wicket.

However, Pakistan vice-captain Butt, playing pace and spin with equal assurance, scored nine boundaries in his 86-ball fifty.

Ali survived a huge lbw appeal from Ben Hilfenhaus off the last ball of the day, with veteran South African umpire Rudi Koertzen ruling in the batsman’s favour although replays suggested the ball might have hit leg stump.

But, with no review system in place, Australia were unable to challenge Koertzen’s decision.

Australia, bowled out for 334 in their second innings, set Pakistan a formidable target thanks to Simon Katich and tailender Hilfenhaus’s Test-best 56 not out.

Debutant wicket-keeper Tim Paine (47) also made his highest score at this level and shared a ninth-wicket stand of 74 with fellow Tasmanian Hilfenhaus.

Last man Bollinger also chipped in with a Test-best 21 before he was bowled by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to end a last-wicket partnership worth 52.

Australia saw their lunch score of 188 for five become 188 for seven as Katich (83) and Marcus North were both caught behind off Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif respectively.

Paine and Hilfenhaus kept the runs coming before the keeper was bowled by Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 16^th, 2010.