Shane Watson became the first bowler to etch his name on the new Lord's honours board as Australia dismantled Pakistan's inexperienced batting line-up to take control of a fast-moving first Test.
Watson finished with five for 40 as Pakistan, replying to Australia's first innings total of 253, crashed to 148 all out in just 40.5 overs.
The Queenslander then opened the batting to score a brisk 31 as Australia extended their lead to 205, reaching the close of a dramatic second day on 100 for four. Simon Katich was one short of his second half-century of the match and the crabby left-hander will resume on Thursday alongside nightwatchman Mitchell Johnson.
Australia did not have it all their own way, with Pakistan's pace attack pegging them back in the final hour of a day which saw 15 wickets fall - but they remain in the box seat. It may have been a landmark day for Watson, but it is not one that Ricky Ponting will want to remember after he failed at Lord's once again.
One of the game's greatest batsmen, Ponting averages just 17 in four Tests at the home of cricket and he was out for a duck, trapped lbw playing no shot to Mohammad Asif. Umar Gul then took two Australian wickets in two balls. Michael Clarke was bowled for 12 after leaving a straight one and Mike Hussey edged the next delivery to Imran Farhat at first slip.
Earlier, Watson had ripped the heart out of Pakistan's middle order, dismissing brothers Umar and Kamran Akmal lbw with some precise swing bowling. Watson halted Shahid Afridi's electric cameo - the captain scored 31 from 15 deliveries - before breaking Salman Butt's resistance, bowling the opener for 68 to leave Pakistan's innings in tatters.
Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger finished with two wickets apiece and Johnson had only Umar Amin's wicket as reward for a fiery spell from the Pavilion End. Watson completed the first five-wicket haul of his Test career when he had Danish Kaneria caught in the slips before reinforcing Australia's advantage with the bat.
Pakistan had bowled themselves into a strong position when Mohammad Aamer wrapped up the Australian first innings for 253, bowling Bollinger to finish with figures of four for 72. Hussey completed his 21st Test half-century to finish unbeaten on 56 before Bollinger was eventually dismissed by a fierce yorker from Aamer. But Pakistan lost nine wickets for 103 runs, with only Butt offering any semblance of long-term resistance.
Hilfenhaus started the rot, claiming two early wickets to restrict Pakistan to 49 for two at lunch after having Farhat and debutant Azhar Ali both caught behind. Amin lasted just two deliveries of a ferocious spell from Johnson before edging a rising delivery to also be caught behind. Then Watson took over. Umar Akmal was trapped lbw as he played around a straight ball before his brother, Kamran, bizarrely offered no shot to fall in the same manner.
Pakistan captain Afridi was playing his first Test in four years and teed off as if it was a Twenty20 game, launching Watson for six over mid-wicket and then another back over his head. But Afridi was tempted once too often and he skied Watson's very next ball, to be caught by Johnson at mid-off. Bollinger then got in on the action to dismiss Aamer - Tim Paine's fourth victim behind the stumps - and Gul before Watson wrapped up the innings.
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
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