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Hauritz heroics put Pakistan in trouble

Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal watches as Nathan Hauritz hits out during his Test-best innings of 75

(CNN) -- Nathan Hauritz starred with bat and ball as Australia took complete control of the first Test against Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday.

The 28-year-old made his highest Test score of 75 as the hosts declared at 454-5, having resumed the second day on 305-3.

The off-spinner then took the wicket of Faisal Iqbal before Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf was dismissed on video referral by Peter Siddle with the penultimate delivery of the day as the tourists slumped to 109-4.

Hauritz, resuming on five after being sent in as a nightwatchman late on Saturday, extended his partnership with Mike Hussey to 91 runs before the left-hander was trapped leg before wicket for 82 by Saeed Ajmal.

Hauritz then put on 72 for the fifth wicket with Michael Clarke (28 not out), as he survived a chance just after lunch when Mohammad Aamer caught his swat down the ground off Ajmal but stepped on the boundary rope to give the Australian a six.

He then passed 50 for the second time in Tests before finally falling lbw to Abdur Rauf, who successfully overturned umpire Rudi Koertzen's initial "not out" decision.

Hauritz scored Australia's 20th half-century of the new southern hemisphere season despite being hampered by his ongoing groin problems, but incredibly no player has yet to go on to reach three figures in four Tests so far, despite winning the three-match series against the West Indies.

While the hosts romped to their commanding first-innings total in just 128 overs, Pakistan crawled past the 100 mark, scoring just 2.2 runs per over in 49 faced.
Salman Butt top-scored with 45 made from 113 deliveries in almost three hours before becoming the third batsman to fall, lbw to Shane Watson.
Opening partner Imran Farhat went first for nine, trapped in similar fashion by left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, then Hauritz had Iqbal caught by Clarke for 15 off 62 balls.

Pakistan's first boundary finally came in the 32nd over when Yousuf crashed Hauritz down the ground for six from just the third ball he had faced, but the skipper fell for 22 off 59 deliveries at the worst possible time.

Yousuf was initially given not out when he appeared to glance a legside ball from Siddle to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, but Australia captain Ricky Ponting successfully overturned the decision on referral.

Nightwatchman Aamer survived the day's last ball, and will resume the third day with Umar Akmal (10).

"The wicket's still very good, it's only day two obviously," Hauritz said. "I think it's just a matter of being extremely disciplined in our areas, and probably getting that last wicket (was) very crucial.

"We had a pretty good day in the end, but they've still got some very good batting to come."LINK


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