Australia hit back with seven late wickets to stem Pakistan's run flow

CRICKET TEST MATCHES:PAKISTAN HELD a 204-run lead with one wicket in hand at the end of day two of the second Test after a late Australia rally at the SCG in Sydney yesterday.

The hosts took seven for 141 in the final session to at least limit the damage after the tourists were 205 for two at one stage.

Pakistan, who resumed on 14 without loss in reply to Australia’s meagre 127, reached 331 for nine at stumps with last pair Danish Kaneria (two) and Mohammad Asif (nought) at the crease on what is now a beautiful batting deck.

Faisal Iqbal (27) was the first to fall after tea – victim of a wonderful Shane Watson catch. He slashed at a wide delivery from Peter Siddle and Watson, back-pedalling furiously, took a terrific catch at deep point.

Skipper Mohammad Yousuf (46) was next to go with the score on 236 – this time Brad Haddin pulling off a brilliant catch. The wicketkeeper stretched high and wide to his right to accept a one-handed snare, giving Mitchell Johnson his second scalp.

Umar Akmal was typically frenetic in clubbing nine fours in his 48-ball 49 before Doug Bollinger trapped him lbw, albeit after the decision was referred to the third umpire.

Bollinger soon had his second wicket with the second new ball as Misbah-Ul-Haq (11) edged to Haddin.

He grabbed a third scalp when Watson at deep point held onto a catch from the dangerous Kamran Akmal (14) to leave the visitors 295 for seven.

Umar Gul (12) and Mohammad Sami (12) also fell before the close, both to Watson for 12, as Australia battled back into contention.

Earlier, Imran Farhat, dropped on 11 by Marcus North off Siddle, brought up his 13th Test half-century off the second delivery of the post-lunch session but soon found himself back in the pavilion for 53.

Having lived dangerously for the majority of his 188-minute stay, the left hander’s luck ran out when he top-edged an attempted sweep off Nathan Hauritz to Haddin, who accepted a simple catch on the run.

Salman Butt guided the visitors past Australia’s total but was fortunate to survive soon after when he edged Johnson just over North’s outstretched hand at first slip.

Johnson soon had his man, though, when Butt attempted an off drive without any notable foot movement and only succeeded in edging to Haddin for 71.

Butt, however, has warned Australia’s batsmen to prepare for another searching examination when they embark on their second innings on an SCG wicket he believes is still unpredictable.

While top-scorer Butt, Mohammad Yousuf (46) and Umar Akmal (49) all made batting look easy on the unusually grassy Sydney wicket, the stylish left-hander insists conditions still heavily favour of the bowlers.

“They’ve been tough throughout these two days and I think the pitch might change slightly but not that much,” Butt said. “It’s one of those where you’re never settled and you’re never in.

“The time you think that you’re in and suddenly the ball does something, so you’ve got to have a good laugh about it and stay relaxed because it’s not under your control.

“Definitely this pitch is not going to change completely. It’s not going to become a batting paradise. There will always be something for the seamers and hopefully the spinners also get help and if Danish (Kaneria) can do what he’s capable of we’ll be well off.”

But while Butt was eager to put doubt in his opponents’ minds, local paceman Bollinger, who led a late fightback, reckons the wicket is becoming increasingly placid.

“It’s doing a bit with the new ball obviously but when it’s not swinging or anything it’s a good place to bat as you saw with the (Pakistan) openers,” said Bollinger, who continued his impressive recent form by claiming three for 70. So you fight hard and then you’ll get your runs from it.”

Despite facing a sizeable first-innings deficit, the lethal left-armer warned the tourists not to get ahead of themselves, insisting the hosts are capable of turning things around.

“It was a good fightback by the guys,” he said. “It was a bit frustrating early but they were two-for at tea and now they’re nine down,” he said.

“So I think just try and get the last one tomorrow and then get our batting hats on for a certain amount of time and get something to bowl to in the second innings.”

Bollinger, a clear favourite with the SCG faithful on the opening two days, added of his stunning recent form: “I’m just really enjoying myself at the moment, just enjoying playing Test cricket and just being around the guys.

“I’m really enjoying taking wickets and how I’m bowling at the moment.

“It’s just the old thing of just keep putting in and they (wickets) will come late.”