SYDNEY TEST MATCH:CAPTAIN RICKY Ponting rated Australia's 36-run win over Pakistan in the second Test at the SCG yesterday among the most satisfying of his career. The hosts dismissed Pakistan for 139 on a dramatic fourth day to cap an incredible triumph which few thought possible when the hosts posted just 127 runs in their first innings.
While Australia have made a habit of snatching dramatic victories at the SCG in recent years – having toppled India and South Africa late on the final day in the previous two Sydney Tests – Ponting claimed the most recent triumph was even more rewarding.
“I don’t think anyone else in the world other than probably all the blokes inside our room thought we could win,” said the Australia captain. “The other (SCG Tests) we’ve probably been in positions where we probably should have won the games. So this one, turning up today 80 runs ahead I think all of us felt if we could get 150 we were going to be right in the game. Where it ended up today was a sort of a difficult number I think for Pakistan to try to chase.”
Ponting conceded the furore surrounding his decision to bat first on a green SCG wicket on the opening day had taken a toll on the entire team and admitted he is unlikely to ever choose to bowl first in a Test match again.
Shell-shocked Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf (19) accepted the blame for his side’s disappointing second innings before conceding his side’s lack of Test experience was a major factor. “I think they batted very well in the second innings and my shot this afternoon was very pathetic and it turned the game, that shot,” he said, referring to an aggressive drive he returned caught and bowled to Nathan Hauritz just after tea.
Overnight: Pakistan 333 (Salman Butt 71, Imran Farhat 53; D E Bollinger 4-72). Australia 127 (Mohammad Asif 6-41) and 286-8 (S R Watson 97, M E K Hussey 73 no; Danish Kaneria 4-117).
Australia: Second Innings
M E K Hussey not out 134
P M Siddle c Misbah-ul-Haq b Mohammad A 38
D E Bollinger b Danish Kaneria 0
Extras b6 lb5 w3 nb5 pens 0 19
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Total (125.4 overs) 381
Fall of wickets: 1-105, 2-144, 3-159, 4-217, 5-226, 6-246, 7-252, 8-257, 9-380.
Bowling: Mohammad Asif 27-8-53-2; Mohammad Sami 19.5-5-74-0; Umar Gul 28-4-83-3; Danish Kaneria 47.5-3-151-5; Imran Farhat 3-0-9-0.
Pakistan: Second Innings
Imran Farhat c Johnson b Bollinger 22
Salman Butt c Haddin b Johnson 21
Faisal Iqbal c Haddin b Johnson 7
Mohammad Yousuf c and b Hauritz 19
Akmal c Johnson b Bollinger 49
Misbah ul-Haq c Hussey b Hauritz 0
Kamran Akmal c Haddin b Johnson 11
Mohammad Sami c Haddin b Hauritz 2
Umar Gul c Siddle b Hauritz 6
Danish Kaneria c Watson b Hauritz 0
Mohammad Asif not out 0
Extras w1 nb1 pens 0 2
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Total (38 overs) 139
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-50, 3-51, 4-77, 5-77, 6-103, 7-133, 8-133, 9-135.
Bowling: Bollinger 12-3-32-2; Siddle 4-1-27-0; Hauritz 12-1-53-5; Johnson 10-2-27-3.
Australia beat Pakistan by 36 runs
