Australia, after captain Ricky Ponting won the toss, collapsed in the face of accurate seam bowling to their lowest Test total since being bowled out for 76 by the West Indies at Perth in 1984.
Pakistan’s three main seamers shared the wickets, with left-armer Mohammad Aamer taking three for 20, including two in the first two balls after lunch, in 11 overs.
Mohammad Asif had three for 30 in 11.1 overs and Umar Gul two for 16 in nine in overcast conditions that aided movement, but not excessively.
Tim Paine, last man out, top scored with 17 in an innings where Australia failed to cope with the swinging ball.
Salman Butt, the new Pakistan captain, then strengthened his team’s position as they tried to win a Test against Australia for the first time since 1995.
Salman shared an opening stand of 80 with Imran Farhat before being dismissed for 45. Ben Hilfenhaus, who dropped a caught and bowled chance off Salman on 42, made amends by bowling him for 45 with a ball that swung back in sharply from around the wicket.
New batsman Azhar Ali, in only his second Test, started uncertainly but it was Farhat who fell next to end a second-wicket partnership worth 53.
Farhat, who batted for over two hours, failed to go on to a big score and was lbw for 43 to a full inswinger from Shane Watson.
And the medium-pacer, who took a Test-best five for 40 at Lord’s, made it two wickets for one run when Ali, on 30, edged an outswinger and was caught by diving wicket-keeper Tim Paine. Ali’s exit left Pakistan on 140 for three.
Earlier, Aamer and Asif reduced Australia to 20 for two in the space of eight balls. Left-hander Simon Katich, who made 80 and 83 at Lord’s, shuffled across his stumps in typical fashion and was struck in front by Aamer.
Watson (five) was plumb lbw to an Asif ball that cut back and Michael Clarke managed just three before he was clean bowled by Gul. Even Ponting, who before this match averaged over 105 at Headingley, never looked at ease and was dismissed by Asif.
Gul then had Michael Hussey lbw for five. Salman brought on Amin and his hunch was rewarded when the medium-pacer had Marcus North for 16.
Australia, who were 73 for six at lunch, then lost two wickets in two balls as Aamer bowled Smith and Mitchell Johnson before Hilfenhaus survived the hat-trick.
Published in The Express Tribune, July22nd, 2010.
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