LONDON, (Reuters) – Australia grasped their opportunity to exploit the swing and seam movement available at Lord’s yesterday by dismissing Pakistan for 148 on the second day of the first test.
The Australians, who have won each of their last 12 tests against Pakistan, needed only 40.5 overs to take a 105-run first innings lead.
Pakistan fought back late in the day, dismissing captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey for ducks, as Australia struggled in their turn to 100 for four, an overall lead of 205. Fifteen wickets fell in the day’s play.
Shane Watson was Australia’s individual hero, becoming the first bowler to earn a place on a new honours board dedicated to players involved in a test from two overseas countries.
Watson, who was promoted to opening batsman in last year’s Ashes series, took five for 40 with his medium-pace from the Pavilion End.
He survived a dazzling but all too brief cameo from Shahid Afridi, captaining Pakistan for the first time in a test match, who smashed 31 from 15 balls, including two sixes off Watson.
His vice-captain Salman Butt played an altogether more responsible innings, melding resolute defence with wristy elegance to reach 63 in 171 minutes before he was beaten and bowled by Watson.
Watson, whose pace proved ideally suited to the conditions, dismissed the Akmal brothers Umar (5) and Kamran (0) lbw in his first two overs.
GUL STRIKES
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine, playing his first test in place of the injured Brad Haddin, took four catches, including two off Tasmanian team mate Ben Hilfenhaus.
In the morning session, Hussey, with 56 not out, again demonstrated his ability to marshal the tail-enders by helping Australia extend their overnight total of 229 for nine to 253 all out.
At the other end of the day, Watson celebrated his achievements with the ball by opening his account with three boundaries.
He lofted Danish Kaneria’s leg-spin for six over mid-wicket to bring up his team’s half-century and drove Mohammad Asif for a majestic four before he was caught by Imran Farhat at first slip off the next ball for 31.
Ponting, in possibly his last test at Lord’s, lasted only six balls before he was lbw to Asif without scoring.
Umar Gul dismissed Michael Clarke (12) and Hussey off successive balls, leaving Simon Katich, top scorer in the first innings with 80, unbeaten on 49 at the close.
SCOREBOARD
Australia first innings (229-9 overnight)
S. Watson b Mohammad Aamer 4
S. Katich c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Asif 80
R. Ponting c Umar Amin b Aamer 26
M. Clarke lbw b Asif 47
M. Hussey not out 56
M. North b Asif 0
T. Paine c Kamran Akmal b Umar Gul 7
S. Smith lbw b Danish Kaneria 1
M. Johnson b Kaneria 3
B. Hilfenhaus b Aamer 1
D. Bollinger b Aamer 4
Extras (b 10, lb 2, w 2, nb 10) 24
Total (all out; 76.5 overs) 253
Fall of wickets: 1-8 2-51 3-171 4-174 5-174 6-206 7-208 8-213 9-222
Bowling: Mohammad Aamer 19.5-2-72-4 (w-2), Mohammad Asif 19-5-63-3, Umar Gul 17-3-32-1 (nb-9), Shahid Afridi 3-0-25-0, Danish Kaneria 18-7-49-2 (nb-1)
Pakistan first innings:
Imran Farhat c Paine b Hilfenhaus 4
Salman Buttb b Watson 63
Azhar Ali c Paine b Hilfenhaus 16
Umar Amin c Paine b Johnson 1
Umar Akmal lbw b Watson 5
Kamran Akmal lbw b Watson 0
Shahid Afridi c Johnson b Watson 31
Mohammad Aamer c Paine b Bollinger 0
Umar Gul c Watson b Bollinger 7
Danish Kaneria c Smith b Watson 14
Mohammad Asif not out 4
Extras (lb 2, nb 1) 3
Total (all out; 40.5 overs) 148
Fall of wickets: 1-11 2-45 3-54 4-75 5-83 6-117 7-117 8-129 9-133
Bowling: D. Bollinger 11-3-38-2, B. Hilfenhaus 12-2-37-2 (nb-1), M. Johnson 10-2-31-1, S. Watson 7.5-1-40-5
Australia second innings
S. Watson c Imran Farhat b Mohammad Asif 31
S. Katich not out 49
R. Ponting lbw b Mohammad Asif 0
M. Clarke b Umar Gul 12
M. Hussey c Imran Farhat b Umar Gul 0
M. Johnson not out 2
Extras (lb 1, nb 5) 6
Total (4 wickets; 29.3 overs) 100
Fall of wickets: 1-61 2-73 3-97 4-97
Bowling: Mohammad Aamer 8.3-2-30-0, Mohammad Asif 9-2-30-2, Umar Gul 5-2-7-2 (nb-3), Danish Kaneria 7-1-32-0 (nb-2).
