The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia takes control of second Test

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 29, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Australia takes control of second Test

MELBOURNE, DEC. 28. Australia capitalised on a depleted opposition bowling attack and another Pakistan batting collapse to seize control of the second cricket Test on Tuesday.

Pakistan was reeling on 85 for five at stumps on day three, an overall lead of 47 runs and with all-rounder Abdul Razzaq in doubt for the rest of the match after spending the day in hospital. Shoaib Malik was unbeaten on 11 and Mohammad Sami on 8.

The Australians resumed at 203 for five — 138 runs behind Pakistan's first innings of 341 — and lost dangerman Adam Gilchrist (48) at 230 before Damien Martyn (142) and Jason Gillespie (50 not out) guided them to a 38-run lead.

Effort undone

Glenn McGrath snared two wickets, while Shane Warne, Michael Kasprowicz and Gillespie took a wicket apiece as Pakistan's top-order batsmen crumbled in the day's final session.

Coach Bob Woolmer said his line-up did ``terrifically well'' to restrict Australia to 379 with only three fit bowlers, but the effort was undone when three Pakistan wickets tumbled before the first-innings deficit was erased.

Martyn's innings was the difference between the teams, said Woolmer. ``His innings really got Australia out of a hole — again, we were down to three bowlers, that was pretty tough for our guys,'' he said. But, ``a 38-run difference shows much improvement on where we were a couple of days ago.''

Pakistan was humbled in Perth last week, losing the first Test by 491 runs after folding for 72 chasing 564 in the last innings.

Woolmer said his line-up was determined to ensure Australia would have to work harder to clinch the three Test series here in Melbourne. The tourists will have to rely on a rearguard fightback to have any chance.

Pakistan went a wicket down without a run on the board when Salman Butt miscued McGrath to Kasprowicz at mid-wicket on the fourth ball of the innings. Imran Farhat (5) pulled Gillespie straight to Martyn at deep backward square, making Pakistan 13 for two. — AP

Pakistan — 1st innings: 341

Australia — 1st innings: J. Langer c Farhat b Kaneria 50; M. Hayden c Malik b Akhtar 9; R. Ponting c Malik b Akhtar 7; D. Martyn lbw b Kaneria 142; D. Lehmann c Hameed b Akhtar 11; M. Clarke c Akhtar b Kaneria 20; A. Gilchrist c Sami b Kaneria 48; S. Warne c & b Akhtar 10; J. Gillespie (not out) 50; M. Kasprowicz c sub-Naved b Akhtar 4; G. McGrath lbw b Kaneria 1. Extras: (nb-19, w-5, lb-2, b-1) 27. Total (in 99.3 overs) 379.

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-32, 3-122, 4-135, 5-171, 6-230, 7-254, 8-347, 9-368.

Pakistan bowling: Akhtar 27-4-109-5, Sami 23-2-102-0, Razzaq 7-0-27-0, Kaneria 39.3-5-125-5, Farhat 3-0-13-0.

Pakistan — 2nd innings: S. Butt c Kasprowicz b McGrath 0; I. Farhat c Martyn b Gillespie 5; Y. Hameed c Gilchrist b McGrath 23; Younis Khan c Hayden b Kasprowicz 23; Y. Youhana c Ponting b Warne 12; Shoaib Malik (batting) 11; M. Sami (batting) 8. Extras: (lb-1, b-2) 3. Total: (for five wickets) 85.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-35, 4-60, 5-68.

Australia bowling: McGrath 9-1-25-2, Gillespie 5-2-10-1, Kasprowicz 10-2-30-1, Warne 10-4-17-1.

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