Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Leeds Test: Pakistan dominate Day One

Last updated on: July 21, 2010 23:01 IST

- Scorecard

Pakistan turned the form book on its head with an inspired bowling performance to skittle Australia for just 88 on the first day of the second Test on Wednesday.

The Australians, seeking their eighth Test win a row, folded meekly after winning the toss and Pakistan reached 148 or three at the close to set up the prospect of a first victory over their opponents for 15 years.

Australia, who won the first Test by 150 runs, crashed to their lowest total since 1984 when they made 76 against West Indies.

Pakistan pace bowlers Mohammad Aamer (three for 20), Mohammad Asif (three for 30) and Umar Gul (two for 16) exploited the favourable conditions with clever swing and seam bowling. Tim Paine top-scored for Australia with 17.

The Pakistanis lost new captain Salman Butt (45), Imran Farhat (43) and Azhar Ali (30) but Umar Amin and Umar Akmal extended their lead to 60 runs, Akmal slogging leg-spinner Steven Smith for the day's first six as the light dimmed.

Pakistan passed the Australia total with one wicket down when Ali edged Mitchell Johnson to the third man boundary.

Australia were annoyed by another Ali edge for four through gully, this time off Ben Hilfenhaus, who appeared to give a verbal volley to the young batsman with captain Ricky Ponting adding a few words of his own.

By then the dark clouds had been replaced by blue sky and sunshine as fans bared their chests and used T-shirts as makeshift sunhats.

For most of the day, there was only a smattering of fans in the Headingley stadium despite enthusiastic marketing to a strong local Pakistani community.

STILL SWUNG

The ball still swung even in the sunshine as left-hander Butt was undone by a full-length Hilfenhaus delivery that uprooted his leg stump.

Farhat also succumbed to the wobbling ball when Shane Watson shaped one into him for a simple lbw decision and Ali was caught one-handed by wicketkeeper Paine after batting for 79 minutes.

Earlier, left-armer Aamer claimed wickets with the first two balls after lunch to help finish off Australia's innings.

Aamer, aged 18, bowled Smith with a ball that swung into him sharply and left-hander Johnson was bowled by a ball swinging prodigiously away.

Before lunch, Australia regularly lost wickets as Asif swung the ball both ways and moved it off the seam, with Watson and Ponting undone by his in-swing.

Gul dismissed Michael Clarke with a ball that swung in and cut back off the seam.

Although the series is being played at neutral venues in England, it is a home one for Pakistan who cannot play in their homeland because of the precarious security situation.

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.