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 Jim Maxwell"The scything Ijaz and Inzamam took charge"  real 28k |
Pakistan close in on victory
Shaoib Akhtar makes a theatrical appeal for Greg Blewett's wicket |
Pakistan 222 and 351-7 (Inzamam-ul-Haq 118), Australia 246 and 188-5 (Michael Slater 97).
Pakistan are on course to square their three-match series as the tourists reduced Australia to 188 for five with a day left to play.
After taking a 10-wicket thrashing in the first Test in Brisbane, Pakistan's bowlers ripped through the home side's batting order to leave the Australians with the improbable target of 181 to win.
It took Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist to steady the innings with a full-blown collapse on the cards, but with rain expected at the Bellerive Oval overnight it could all end in a disappointing draw.
Consistently dangerous
If, however, the weather clears up, the Australians will need to score the third highest fourth innings total of all time to win.
The tourists' breakthrough came from all-rounder Azhar Mahmood who was on for a hat-trick after dismissing Greg Blewett for 29 and Mark Waugh for a first-ball duck. Steve Waugh denied him the triple.
But the Australian captain was soon on his way back to the pavilion as Saqlain Mushtaq had him caught and bowled for 28.
The bowler looked consistently dangerous, although he was never close to repeating his first innings personal Test record of six for 46.
Ricky Ponting went immediately for his third consecutive duck.
Langer, celebrating his 29th birthday, did his best to dig Australia out of trouble and was on an unbeaten 52 when at the end of the day - his 10th Test half century.
Gilchrist also turned in a deft performance to last into the final day on 45 not out.
Earlier in the day, Australia did well to limit the Pakistani total, stopping centurion Inzamam-ul-Haq for 118 off Shane Warne and claiming Waqar, run out Younis for nought.
The tourists steadied to put on 34 runs for the last wicket through Shoaib and Wasim Akram, who spooned a ball to Blewett to end the innings.
Scorecard
Overnight: Pakistan 222 (Mohammad Wasim 91) and 351-7 (Saeed Anwar 78, Ijaz Ahmed 82, Inzamam-ul-Haq 118*)
Australia 246 (Slater 97, Langer 59, Mushtaq 6-46)
Pakistan Second Innings Cont:
Inzamam-ul-Haq c M Waugh b Warne 118
*Wasim Akram c Blewett b Warne 31
Waqar Younis run out 0
Shoaib Akhtar not out 5
Extras (6lb, 1w, 7nb) 14
Total (all out, 128.4 overs) 392
Fall: 8-357, 9-358, 10-392
Australia Second Innings: Close of Play
M J Slater c Azhar Mahmood b Shoaib Akhtar 27
G S Blewett c Moin Khan b Azhar Mahmood 29
J L Langer not out 52
M E Waugh lbw b Azhar Mahmood 0
*S R Waugh c and b Saqlain Mushtaq 28
R T Ponting lbw b Wasim Akram 0
+A C Gilchrist not out 45
Extras (3lb, 4nb) 7
Total (5 wickets, 70 overs) 188
Fall: 1-39, 2-81, 3-81, 4-125, 5-126
To Bat: S K Warne, D W Fleming, G D McGrath, S A Muller
Umpires: P D Parker and P Willey (Eng)
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19 Nov 99 | Cricket |
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Saqlain stars in Aussie collapse |
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18 Nov 99 | Cricket |
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Milestone for McGrath against Pakistan |
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