Neil Whitaker reports on Pakistan's historic victory at Headingley
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PAKISTAN beat Australia by three wickets to level the MCC Spirit of Cricket test series at Headingley Carnegie in a thrilling morning session on the fourth day.
It was the first time they had beaten Australia in 14 Tests dating back to 1995 but they made they made hard work of it. Starting the day needing just 40 more runs to win, it took them 65 minutes to get the runs and in 13.4 overs they lost four wickets.
Ben Hilfenhaus opened the bowling for Australia to Umar Akmal and he hit the fifth ball of the morning for a couple through the covers. A half volley from Doug Bollinger was smashed by Azhar Ali for a four through the covers to bring up his fifty from 107 balls in 145 minutes with six fours. Next ball Azhar Ali was caught behind by Tim Paine.
A streaky four through the vacant third slip area by Umar Akmal off Hilfenhaus brought up the 150. Without adding to the total, Umar Akmal pushed at a wide ball from Hilfenhaus and was caught behind for eight.
Shoaib Malik was dropped on four by Michael Clarke of diving to his right off Bollinger. Shoaib Malik drove Hilfenhaus straight to Marcus North at short extra cover and the ball stuck. Pakistan still needed 19 with four wickets left.
With five runs needed Kamran Akmal cut Mitchell Johnson to Mike Hussey at point who claimed a low catch. Kamran Akmal didn’t move and it was referred to the third umpire who gave Kamran Akmal not out.
Mohammed Amir steered Hilfenhaus through the slips to bring the scores level. In the next over Kamran Akmal steered Johnson to Hussey at gully, this time there was no doubt. Umar Gul smashed the next ball through the covers just wide of Simon Katich to win the match.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting said: “Lots happened for us today. We didn’t get enough runs on the first day. I thought our bowlers were excellent today. We’ve been outplayed, not only in one department but in all departments.”
He praised the Pakistan bowling attack: “Their current crop of bowlers bowled very well, their attack is very good and Amir continues to improve. He’s got good pace and he thinks about the game. He seems to be a little more mature than his age. If their attack bowls as well as they did here they will cause England problems and it will be an entertaining series.”
Ponting also spoke about his decision to bat after winning the toss: “Looking back we were surprised at how much it seamed but that’s my responsibility.”
He wasn’t pleased with the way Australia batted on Friday: “I was disappointed with our batting yesterday, we had a chance to get a few more runs but we let an opportunity slip. We were playing catch up cricket since day one and I was looking forward to the days cricket yesterday and scoring more runs. As you’ve seen today a score of 180 is a tricky score to chase. I thought the runs we got out of Smith were entertaining.”
Victorious skipper Salam Butt said: “It was a bit nervy, but that’s how cricket goes. Being a young side we weren’t under any pressure. There is nothing like beating the world’s best because it’s an achievement. We would have loved to have played to have won this match in front of a home crowd we hope to be playing in front of them soon. It’s a new beginning for Pakistan cricket. The bowlers have done a wonderful job here and I hope this win doesn’t go to their heads.”
40 more runs for victory stumps day 3.
Pakistan declined to claim the extra half hour to get the runs. Guiding them close to victory were Imran Farhat who made 67 in 147 minutes with eight fours from 78 balls. and Azhar Ali was unbeaten on 47 when play ended. They put on 110 in 27 overs. The partnership was broken when Imran Farhat was yorked by Doug Bollinger. In Bollinger’s next over he had Umar Amin caught behind for a duck.
Imran Farhat said: “I was playing positive but we lost wickets so it’s a good decision that we come back tomorrow so we are fresh. The decision come off was taken by the management. If we hadn’t lost another wicket we would have taken the extra half hour. We were told to play positive cricket, we are looking for the win.”
At the end of the second day Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said: “The match is even and we need a couple of early wickets.” Pakistan did better and took three early wickets. Their first breakthrough came in the third over of the day when Ricky Ponting chased a wide one from Mohammad Amir and was caught behind for 66 from 116 balls. Ponting had added five to his overnight score and four of them came from edge was just wide of Umar Akmal at second slip.
The second wicket of the morning fell 11 balls later when Mike Hussey gloved Mohammad Amir, the ball looped and Umar Akmal took the catch diving forward at second slip. Mohammad Amir took his third wicket of the morning two overs later when he bowled Mucus North for a duck. Australia were five down and still six behind Pakistan.
Michael Clarke, who passed 50 in a Test Match for the 19th time took the Aussies into the lead when he cut Mohammad Amir for three. Together with Tim Paine they took Australia into lunch without any further loss. But in the second over after lunch, Clarke edged an out swinger from Mohammad Asif to Kamran Akmal. Clarke had made 77 and with Paine they added54 in 17 overs for the sixth wicket.
Paine’s innings ended when he top edged a cut and it went to Azhar Ali in the covers. His 33 came from 84 balls. It was a rash shot in the circumstances.
Pakistan took the new ball when it was due and got a breakthrough with it in the fifth over when Mohammad Asif had Mitchell Johnson leg before to an in swinger. Johnson and Paine had put on 43 in nine overs. The Aussies were now 113 in front with two wickets left.
Ben Hilfenhaus brought up the Aussie 300 up when he hit two consecutive fours of Mohammad Amir. Imran Farhat at slip stayed down at slip and took a good catch to get rid of Hilfenhaus for 17 Danish Kaneria. Hilfenhaus and Stephen Smith put on a priceless 37 for the ninth wicket in five overs.
Smith brought up his maiden test half century when he dragged Kaneria for a four through mid wicket. His 50 came from 81 balls and included seven fours. He hit an easy straight six off Kaneria which landed on the second tier of the football stand. He did even better with the next ball which landed on the football stand roof. That shot took Australia past 176 which Pakistan failed to get at Sydney when the teams met at Christmas.
The innings was wrapped when Smith had a wild swing at a slower one from Umar Gul and was bowled for 77. Doug Bollinger was unbeaten on 0 Australia were all out for 349 leaving Pakistan to 180 to win. Smith said: “It was good to get amongst the runs. I was batting with tail and I had to take all the strike. It was nice to Kaneria over the fence today. I like to contribute with bat and the ball and hopefully tomorrow I’ll take a few early wickets. We have to believe in ourselves, if we run through a few wickets and put pressure on them you don’t know. Being in England has been a steep learning curve and hopefully it will stand me in good stead for the future.”
In their chase Pakistan opener Imran Farhat was dropped on four by Shane Watson at first slip going to his right off Bollinger with the score on 18 but nine runs later Australia got a wicket when Salam But who made 13 off 16 balls steered Hilfenhaus to Clarke at first slip.
Day2
SHANE Watson’s second five wicket haul in two tests bowled Australia back into the second MCC Sprit of Cricket Test match at Headingley Carnegie.
Watson did the damage after lunch. Pakistan went into lunch at 215 for five; they lost their next five wickets for 40 runs in nine overs. When Kamran Akmal cut the first ball after lunch from Watson for a four it looked like Pakistan were intent on getting an huge lead but four balls later Karman Akmal edged a wide from Watson to Marcus North at slip who took a low catch and the Pakistan innings began to disintegrate. Mohammad Amir padded up to Watson’s next ball and was unlucky to be adjudged leg before for a duck. Umar Gul became Watson’s fifth victim of the innings when he played on to him for a duck. Watson had taken three wickets in eight balls for one. The all-rounder finished with career best figures of six for 33 from 11 overs.
He said: “It's hard to believe. It was my day today. I didn’t have any idea that my bowling would play such an important part. I knew I was going to fulfil a role here. The next step is to contribute with both the bat and ball because it’s frustrating not to contribute with the bat.”
He added: “Our plans worked today. There is still a lot of hard work to do in this match and hopefully we can do this over the next couple of days.”
In their second innings, Australia’ captain and vice Captain got their heads down to defy the Pakistan bowlers. By the time bad light stopped play they had added 81 for the third wicket in 25 overs only 34 behind Pakistan. Ricky Ponting was 61 not out and Michael Clarke was unbeaten on 32.
During Ponting’s innings he passed 12000 runs and became the first player to pass 50 in the match. On 60 Kamran Akmal thought he had stumped Ponting off Danish Kaneria but Ponting managed to get his foot behind the line.
The Aussies lost their first second innings’ wicket in the fifth over when Simon Katich was bowled round his legs by Mohammad Amir for 11 with the score on 15 . Next ball Ponting was lucky to survive an lbw appeal.
Watson chopped on part time bowler Umar Amin for 24 with the Aussies still 115 behind. The wicket came at the right time for Pakistan because the Aussies appeared to be clawing their way back into the Test.
On cool overcast Thursday morning Pakistan resumed the second day, which started 45 minutes late, on 148 for three. After adding eight off the first four balls Umar Akmal had a wild swing at Mitchell Johnson, thinking it was a twenty20 match and was caught at mid off by Katich but it was a no ball. Six overs later Johnson got his man when Umar Akmal pushed forward and edged it and Paine took the catch. Umar Akmal had made 21 from 20 balls.
Umar Amin batted well for his 25 but after hitting Ben Hilfenhaus for four, he ducked a short one from but left his bat up in the air and North took the catch at square leg. Kamran Akmal dropped on 10 by Mike Hussey at gully off Doug Bollinger. In the truncated morning session Pakistan added 70 in 17 overs for the loss of two wickets.
Shoaib Malik top edged a slog which went up in the air and Paine stepped forward and took an easy catch. The Pakistan innings was wrapped up when Mohammad Asif chipped Hilfenhaus but it fell short off Steve Smith, his throw broke the stumps and rebounded off, the batters set off for a single. Eventually umpire Rudi Koertzen singled for the third umpire which proved Kaneria had’nt beaten the throw at the bowlers end. The last pair had added 24 runs in 24 balls. Pakistan ended on 258, a lead of 170
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