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Pakistan not giving in

Watson makes it his own Test

CRIClNFO, undated
Pakistan stubbornly refused to concede the first Test in the face of a would-be world record run chase, but a steady trickle of wickets ensured the Australians maintained the upper hand entering the final day at the MCG.
Set an improbable victory target of 422, the tourists headed to stumps on the fourth day of the Boxing Day first Test in relatively good health at 3 for 170 following an entertaining day that witnessed Shane Watson register a nerve-jangling maiden Test century and Mohammad Aamer become the youngest fast bowler in history to claim a five-wicket haul.
Pakistan's cause appeared hopeless when Doug Bollinger rapped Imran Farhat on the pads in the seventh over, an appeal that was originally turned down by Rudi Koertzen, the on-field umpire, but overturned by the video official. Brief periods of revival were later punctuated by Mitchell Johnson's dismissal of Salman Butt and Nathan Hauritz's removal of Faisal Iqbal, but Mohammad Yousuf and the impressive Umar Akmal survived through to stumps, still requiring a further 252 for victory on the final day.
Australia had an opportunity to seize complete control in the final half hour of play with the introduction of Simon Katich, the occasional wrist spinner, into the attack. Katich had not bowled a ball all summer to that point, but promptly had Akmal dropped by Hauritz at mid-on with his first delivery and almost stumped a ball later. Akmal survived, however, ensuring the Australians an uncomfortable night s sleep, given the difficulties they have encountered bowling teams out on the fifth day.
Two themes from this young series -- Watson's nerves in the nineties and Pakistan's woes in the field --were brought to bear in the second session as Australia positioned themselves for a victory charge. Watson, whose issues converting half-centuries to three figures this summer have been well documented, was dropped by Abdur Rauf at gully off the bowlingof Mohammad Aamer on 99, scampering through for a single on the misfield to seal his maiden Test ton.
For the third time this summer, Watson endured a nervous journey through the nineties. He headed to lunch unbeaten on 98, having cautiously seen off a maiden from Saeed Ajmal to close out the session. More anxious moments were to follow after the break, as Watson chased a succession of wide offerings outside off stump. Pakistan's tactic - complete with an 8-1 off-side field -- appeared to have worked when the righthander slashed a full, wide Aamer delivery to Rauf in the gully, only for the embattled fielder to turf the chance and hand Watson his century; 66 minutes after he had entered the 90s.
Pakistan's fifth dropped catch of the match ensured Watson became the first Australian batsman since Michael Hussey at The Oval to reach triple figures in a Test, breaking a team sequence of 20 unconverted half-centuries. in 12 innings as Australia's Test opener, he has now scored 716 runs at the eye-catching average of 65.09. Phillip Hughes will have a while to wait yet.
SCOREBOARD
Scoreboard at stumps on the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground onTuesday:
AUSTRALIA: First innings 454 for 5 declared in 128 overs (Katich 98, Watson 93, Hussey 82, Hauritz 75, Ponting 57; Asif 2-86)
PAKISTAN: First innings Farhat lbw b Johnson 9 Butt lbwbWatson 45
Iqbal c Clarke b Hauritz 15 YousufclladdinbSiddle 22 Umarc Ponting b Johnson 51 Aamer c North b Bollinger 15 Misbahnotout 65
Kamran cHaddmb Bollinger 12 Raufc North b Bollinger 3 AsifcWatsonbSiddle 0 Ajmal b Johnson 4
Extras: (b-4,lb-3,w-l,nb-9) 17 Total: (All out in 99 overs) 258 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-59. 3-84,4-109,5-159, 6-203, 7-215, 8-219,9-220 Bowler O M R W
Bollinger 20 6 50 3
Siddle 24 7 77 2
Hauritz 20 3 58 1
Johnson 22 10 36 3
Watson 13- 3 30 1
AUSTRALIA: Second innings Watson not out 120
Katich c Kamran b Asif 2
Pontingc Butt b Aamer 12
Hussey lbw b Aamer 4
Clarke c Kamran b Aamer 37
North b Aamer 8
Haddinc Kamran b Aamer 0 Johnson run out (Asif/Ajmal) 22
Hauritz st Kamran b Ajmal 8
Extras: (lb-2,w-3,nb-7) 12
Total: (For 8 wkts deci 73.1 overs) 225
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-32, 3-40,4-143, 5-161,6-161,7-198, 8-225
Did not bat: Bollinger, Siddle
Bowler O M R W
Asif 16 3 38 1
Aamer 24 6 79 5
Ajmal 23.1 1 73 1
Rauf 10 3 33 0
PAKISTAN: Second innings Farhat lbw b Bollinger 12 Butt lbw b Johnson 33
Iqbal b Hauritz 48
Yousufnot out 45
Umar not out 27
Extras:(b-1,lb-l,w-l,nb-2) 5 Total: (For 3 wkts in 45 overs) 170 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-80, 3-116
To bat: Misbah, Kamran, Aamer, Rauf, Asif, Ajmal
Bowler O M R W
Bollinger 10 3 31 1
Siddle. 8 3 26 0
Hauritz 15 2 62 I
Johnson 10 2 36 1
Katich 2 0 13 0