An anxious wait for victory
Pakistan were left sniffing what may be the end of their winless streak against Australia on 3rd day of the 2nd Test.
Pakistan were left sniffing what may be close to ending their winless streak against Australia at stumps on the third day of the second and final Test at Headingley.
Pakistan ended the third day on 140 for three - just 40 short of a victory target of 180. The umpires took the players off at the scheduled finish because neither side was close enough to victory, in the officials’ opinion, to force a result in an extra half-hour.
Pakistan’s opener Imran Farhat, dropped on four, scored 67 before left-arm quick Doug Bollinger gave Pakistan a jolt by taking two wickets for no runs in seven balls to remove both Farhat and fellow left-hander Umar Amin.
Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 47 at stumps, having helped Farhat put on 110 for the second wicket as Pakistan’s top order at last produced a significant partnership when it was most needed. Farhat faced 95 balls with nine boundaries before he was yorked by Bollinger who then had Umar Amin caught behind for nought.
But Pakistan might have been in trouble had not first slip Shane Watson dropped Farhat off Bollinger despite getting both hands to the ball. Pakistan were then 18 without loss. Australia did remove Salman Butt early, when the left-handed opener, on 13, edged Ben Hilfenhaus to Michael Clarke at second slip.
Pakistan had moved on to 59 for one when Watson, who had taken a Test-best six for 33 in the first innings, was introduced into the attack. But the medium-pacer could not break through.
Leg-spinner Steven Smith, who had earlier made his maiden Test fifty, was late cut for four by Ali as Pakistan got the target down to under a hundred. Farhat then glanced stray Watson deliveries for two fours in as many balls before his two off the all-rounder took Pakistan to the morale-boosting total of 100. That Australia set Pakistan as many as they did was thanks mainly to Smith’s dashing 77 in only his second Test. Smith was last man out in an Australia total of 349 having come in when their lead was only 47.
But he played some fine shots in a 100-ball innings featuring two sixes and nine fours that ended when he was bowled slogging at Umar Gul. He shared stands of 37 with both Mitchell Johnson and Hilfenhaus for the eighth and ninth wickets respectively
Smith launched leg-spinner Kaneria for two sixes in as many balls, the second a huge hit onto the roof of the Football Stand End. In the morning, Mohammad Aamer took three wickets for just 12 runs in 16 balls, on his way to final figures of four for 86 in 27 overs and a Test-best match return of seven for 106.
Clarke, 76 not out at the break, added just one to his interval score when, he was caught behind Mohammad Asif’s first ball after lunch. It was a superb full length delivery that seamed away enough to take the outside edge.
Australia resumed on their overnight score of 136 for two, 34 behind Pakistan’s first innings 258. Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, was 61 not out but had added only five more when he was caught behind off a loose drive against Aamer for the wicket that set Pakistan off.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2010.
Pakistan ended the third day on 140 for three - just 40 short of a victory target of 180. The umpires took the players off at the scheduled finish because neither side was close enough to victory, in the officials’ opinion, to force a result in an extra half-hour.
Pakistan’s opener Imran Farhat, dropped on four, scored 67 before left-arm quick Doug Bollinger gave Pakistan a jolt by taking two wickets for no runs in seven balls to remove both Farhat and fellow left-hander Umar Amin.
Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 47 at stumps, having helped Farhat put on 110 for the second wicket as Pakistan’s top order at last produced a significant partnership when it was most needed. Farhat faced 95 balls with nine boundaries before he was yorked by Bollinger who then had Umar Amin caught behind for nought.
But Pakistan might have been in trouble had not first slip Shane Watson dropped Farhat off Bollinger despite getting both hands to the ball. Pakistan were then 18 without loss. Australia did remove Salman Butt early, when the left-handed opener, on 13, edged Ben Hilfenhaus to Michael Clarke at second slip.
Pakistan had moved on to 59 for one when Watson, who had taken a Test-best six for 33 in the first innings, was introduced into the attack. But the medium-pacer could not break through.
Leg-spinner Steven Smith, who had earlier made his maiden Test fifty, was late cut for four by Ali as Pakistan got the target down to under a hundred. Farhat then glanced stray Watson deliveries for two fours in as many balls before his two off the all-rounder took Pakistan to the morale-boosting total of 100. That Australia set Pakistan as many as they did was thanks mainly to Smith’s dashing 77 in only his second Test. Smith was last man out in an Australia total of 349 having come in when their lead was only 47.
But he played some fine shots in a 100-ball innings featuring two sixes and nine fours that ended when he was bowled slogging at Umar Gul. He shared stands of 37 with both Mitchell Johnson and Hilfenhaus for the eighth and ninth wickets respectively
Smith launched leg-spinner Kaneria for two sixes in as many balls, the second a huge hit onto the roof of the Football Stand End. In the morning, Mohammad Aamer took three wickets for just 12 runs in 16 balls, on his way to final figures of four for 86 in 27 overs and a Test-best match return of seven for 106.
Clarke, 76 not out at the break, added just one to his interval score when, he was caught behind Mohammad Asif’s first ball after lunch. It was a superb full length delivery that seamed away enough to take the outside edge.
Australia resumed on their overnight score of 136 for two, 34 behind Pakistan’s first innings 258. Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, was 61 not out but had added only five more when he was caught behind off a loose drive against Aamer for the wicket that set Pakistan off.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 24th, 2010.