Pakistan face improbable task on final day

Shane Watson's first test century is a testament to his hard work and mental strength that saw him transform from a crash and bang lower order batsman to a self assured Australian opener. -Photo by AFP

MELBOURNE: Pakistan's bid to script an improbable win in the first test against Australia looked all but over as they ended day four 170-3 with the target still 252 runs away. Pegged on the back foot, the tourists will look to anchor down and salvage a final day draw.

They would, however, take confidence in the fact that two of their most competent batsmen, Mohammad Yousuf and Umar Akmal (easily the most reliable in the side with only three tests under his belt), are at the crease offering gritty resistance. Yousuf stood on an assured 45 off 70 balls while Akmal raced a flowing 27 from 34 balls punctuated with five boundaries. Pakistan's survival and any hopes of sneaking to victory, however slim they may be, will depend on how long the 19-year-old bats.

Before Pakistan found themselves in that precarious position, it was a day of contentment and relief for the home side as Shane Watson, starting the day on 64, registered his maiden test hundred and in the process became the first Australia batsman to score a century since August of 2009.

For Watson, who has been on the brink with scores of 96 and 89 in the recently concluded Frank Worrell Trophy, it wasn't without incident though. For him Santa Claus did not appear out of a chimney but stood at gully in the form of Pakistani fast bowler Abdur Rauf as he played a streaky cut on 99. Rauf, clearly full on mid-break goodies, fell like an oak tree to his right as the ball thudded into the outer portion of his palms before landing on the grass. As Watson completed the single, MCG stood up in ovation, his parents tearful in joy.

The all-rounder stood at an unbeaten 120 as Australia declared at 225-8. Mohammad Aamer was the strikeforce for Pakistan picking up his first five-wicket haul for 79 hard-to-come-by runs. Touching speeds of 150 kph, he easily the most exciting bowler of both the sides. His ability to seam the ball at high pace, coupled with stinging bouncers and well-disguised slower balls earned the praise of the century-maker Watson.

Mohammad Asif was economical and Saeed Ajmal far too quick and flat to get any spin on the ball. The two managed one wicket each.

The target of 422, when Ricky Ponting declared with 45 overs remaining in the day, seemed an uphill task for the Pakistani batsmen. They were soon down in the dumps when the opener Imran Farhat fell in the seventh over with the score on 18. Salman Butt combined with Faisal Iqbal to put on 62 at a healthy rate of just under four an over before the former was trapped LBW by an incoming Mitchell Johnson delivery. Nathan Hauritz rattled Iqbal's off stump with one that turned sharply after hitting a crack. Iqbal scored 48 to add to his first innings score of 15 and his fate it seems likely hangs in the balance if reports suggesting a Younis Khan call up are true.

If the Hauritz square-turner is anything to go by the final day could well see the home side canter to a win. Pakistan will have to better the best fourth-innings total at the MCG to win a match by nearly a 100 runs.

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