Date-stamped : 10 Dec95 - 14:29 Test #1314 Australia v Pakistan, 3rd Test. Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. 30 November, 1,2,3,4 December 1995 ====> Preview, 29 Nov 95 Box office attractions may miss final game - Peter Deeley THE injury doubts about Shane Warne and Salim Malik threaten to rob the final Test of the series between Australia and Pakistan, starting here tomorrow, of the one element that might yet make it a box office success. The confrontation between these two, coming on top of all the allegations of attempted bribery and match-fixing, was an event that captivated Australia when Pakistan arrived. But the meeting between accuser and accused has lasted four balls so far and if there is no final `showdown`, this series may go down as the most poorly attended in Australia in recent years. The Australian Cricket Board admitted they are facing a financial loss for the three-Test series. Ticket sales for this Test were reported to be "very slow" by New South Wales Cricket Association chief executive Brian Hughes. But Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam dismissed claims that his team`s poor performance in the series was to blame for the weak ticket sales. "People are more keen to watch one-day The Sydney public would certainly turn out to see if Warne could repeat his celebrated dismissal of Malik for nought in Brisbane Warne, whose big toe on his left foot was broken by Waqar Younis in the second Test in Hobart last week, says he is keen to play but prudence may dictate otherwise. Australia begin a three-Test series next week against Sri Lanka. After that the two countries and the West Indies play a one-day series and then comes the World Cup, so Warne acknowledges that the selectors may hold him back, with the Pakistan series already won. Malik damaged his hand in the first Test in Brisbane, missed the second but says the injury has healed and he is keen to play. The former Pakistan captain has said that before, however, and yet failed to appear. With a tour of New Zealand to follow - one Test and four one-day internationals - and the tourists virtually admitting that this trip is a preparation for their primary goal, retention of their World Cup title, Malik may well be kept under wraps and out of harm`s way until the Tasman Sea is crossed. The Sydney public would certainly turn out to see if Warne could repeat his celebrated dismissal of Malik for nought in Brisbane but without that element of spice it is doubtful whether total attendance for the series - 38,000 after the first two games - will top the 70,000 mark. Coming on top of the announcement that Brian Lara will not be with the West Indies side in the triangular series, this could be a summer bereft of profit for the ACB. However, after a record Ashes year in 1994-95, the ACB are probably the wealthiest crick- eting authority in the world. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 1, 30 Nov 95 Ijaz clubs hundred as Pakistan find form - Peter Deeley First day: Australia v Pakistan (231-4) AT THE 11th hour of their shambolic tour of Australia, Pak- istan yesterday rediscovered something of the form that once made them a respected Test side. After Wasim Akram had won the toss for the first time in the series, Ijaz Ahmed - only called into this trip half-way through - scored his third century, all against Australia (the first one dating back seven years), to see the tourists through to a respectable 231 for four at the close of the first day of this final Test. They might have been in an even stronger position had not Salim Malik, after fighting another personal duel with Shane Warne and this time coming out with honours even, been trapped leg before by Glenn McGrath half an hour before the end when the new ball was only four overs old. In McGrath`s previous over, Malik, finding some of his old form, had driven the fast bowler for three superb cover-drive boun- daries in four balls. But this time McGrath found a fuller length and Malik`s responses were not quick enough to dig this one out and he was trapped on the back foot. The 11,000 crowd - swollen by the late news that Warne and Malik were both fit and anticipating more fireworks with the alleged bribery scandal still a source of debate - roundly booed Malik on to the pitch. When he eventually snicked a single off the leg-spinner, Malik, imperturbable as ever, raised his bat to the crowd. By the close, if they had not forgiven at least they were prepared to applaud the former Pakistan captain as he walked off. The day, however, belonged to his brother-in-law, Ijaz. He ar- rived at the crease for the fourth ball of the day, replacing Amir Sohail, who tickled Craig McDermott`s opening delivery round his legs for four, then went for an extravagant cover-drive off the third to give Mark Waugh a fast, high catch at second slip. This was Pakistan`s first Test century of the tour and only the fifth time one of their batsmen had passed fifty Ijaz stayed to the close and in the penultimate over hit McDer- mott high over gully for the boundary which brought up his centu- ry. He did not give a chance and while prepared to play the an- chor role, also hit Mark Waugh over mid-on for one six and was not afraid to punish Warne, pulling a full toss for another six and sweeping him for a boundary in the same over. This was Pakistan`s first Test century of the tour and only the fifth time one of their batsmen had passed fifty. That may have had something to do with the fact that this was a slow, easy- paced pitch with a low bounce that at last suited their style. Warne, who rates Sydney his least favourite Australian Test ground, came into the game despite his broken big toe. In his sixth over he got Ramiz Raja in two minds with a top-spinner that hurried on. The batsman went to pull the ball but got into a men- tal tangle and the resulting leading edge spooned up a catch to mid-on. Ijaz and Inzamam-ul-Haq added 77 for the third wicket before In- zamam tried to cut a leg-break and chopped it into Ian Healy`s gloves. It was the first day of the series Pakistan could be said to have won on points. Now 2-0 down, they can do no more than save face here before going to New Zealand next week, but lamentable run- ning between the wickets cost them some 30 runs, which could still rob them of victory. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 1, more Ijaz`s unbeaten century lifts Pakistan batting - Qamar Ahmed For the first time in the series Pakistan`s tamed batting line-up stood to the test courageously to make an impressive 231 for 4 on the first day of the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. For this they owe a lot to their replacement batsman Ijaz Ahmed who scored a flawless unbeaten century (101) to lift them after Pakistan had won the toss and started poorly, losing their first wicket of Aamir Sohail on only the third delivery of the day. Having come in to face the new ball, Ijaz seldom flattered in his stay of over six hours on the crease in which he hit thirteen glorious boundaries and two towering sixes of Mark Waugh and Shane Warne. His fifty came in 176 minutes batting with four boundaries and a six and his third century against Australia at the fag-end of the day in 348 minutes batting. For a player who had been forced into oblivion after the Test series in Zimbabwe early this year, this surely was a great come- back innings and a mind-boggling for those who still fail to understand or discover as to why he was banished from the scene and not considered against Sri Lanka at home despite his 246 runs in the series against Zimbabwe at an average of 49.50. There was no doubt in the fact that he was at the wrong end of a dicey decision by Darrell Hair in the second innings of the second Test. He batted defiantly in the first innings there and his cool and calculated innings at the SCG had all the hallmark of a fully committed person who was there to prove something not only to the Australians but to his folks who for some dubious reasons had made him a scapegoat. It sounds strange that he was not even allowed to play for his employers in Pakistan and yet suddenly was rushed back to Aus- tralia to strengthen a rather rickety batting line-up. To acclimatise and elevate himself in such a brief period and then rise to the call is indeed creditable and he deserves every bit of it. The manner in which he steered Pakistan to a respect- able score was cheerfully applauded by a crowd of over 11,000. Drives and cuts flowed from his bat once he got into his grooves and even Shane Warne who spun the ball viciously was not much of a problem for him. Winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bat and lost the wicket of Aamir Sohail when the first day`s play started after a fifteen- minute delay because of rain. It was a careless shot by Aamir Sohail who edged Craig McDermott into the third slip to Mark Waugh on the third ball of the day when 4. Ramiz Raja batted steadily for his 33 runs but was out to a poor shot when he lobbed a long-hop to mid-on to Michael Slater off Warne, minutes before lunch but not before he had put on 60 for the second wicket with Ijaz Ahmed. In the second session 79 runs were added with Pakistan losing one more wicket that of Inzamam- ul-Haq who in 96 minutes stay had scored 39 runs to put on 77 for the third wicket. Inzamam`s was an impressive innings which was cut short by Warne who had him caught at the wicket by Ian Healy. Ijaz continued to dominate the proceedings even with Salim Malik at the wicket who had joined him. The two shared a stand of 69 for the fourth wicket before it ended. Malik looked in good shape. In one over from Glen McGrath he hit three fours past the cover region but was out leg before to him when 36. Having put on 21 runs for the fifth wicket with Basit Ali Ijaz saw the day off without any further damage. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 2, 1 Dec 95 Waughs press home advantage - Peter Deeley Second day: Australia (151-3) trail Pakistan (299) by 148 runs AN all-too-familiar collapse by Pakistan, which saw their last six wickets fall for 36 runs, may have cost them the chance of a face-saving victory in this final Test. With the Waugh twins surviving a testing period at the hands of the tourists` spinners late on the second day, Australia have been able to pull themselves back into the reckoning, finishing on 151 for three when bad light stopped play. But Pakistan, with careless batting, have only themselves to blame for not reaching a first-innings total which would have put the home side under pressure for the first time in the series. At one stage in the morning, with Ijaz Ahmed building on his overnight century, they stood at 263 for four. Then in less than an hour it was all over, dismissed for 299. Craig McDermott, who has been several degrees below par in the series, was initially responsible for the breakdown. Basit Ali was once again profligate with his obvious talents, driving uppishly at the fast bowler and Rashid Latif, disturbed by one bouncer, tamely edged the next delivery. When Ijaz had added three to his overnight score he edged Paul Reiffel into the normally sure hands of Mark Waugh at second slip. The chance went down, partly the result perhaps of the fielder wearing his dark glasses on an overcast day. McDermott at last looked sharp enough to run through the remainder of the batting until Wasim Akram, whose policy in this game has been to attack at every opportunity, hit him for four boundaries in an over. Ijaz, following his captain`s example, chose to punish Shane Warne but the spinner`s worst ball of the innings claimed the crucial wicket. Ijaz pulled a full toss on leg stump to deep fine leg. He had batted for more than seven hours for his 137, his highest Test score. At that stage Wasim should have acted as the shepherd for his tail-enders. Instead he allowed Warne to devour the lesser Pakistan batting. The result was that the final four wick- ets went down in 19 balls for the addition of two runs - and Wasim was last to go, screwing a return catch to McGrath off a waist-high full toss. Wasim did not have to wait long for his revenge. For the second time in the game a wicket went down off the third ball of an in- nings: this time Michael Slater was tempted to drive at a ball which straightened late. The spinners Mushtaq - Ahmed and Saqlain - put Australia under severe pressure and each was rewarded with a wicket, David Boon cutting at a leg-break and Mark Taylor getting a bottom edge off an attempted sweep. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 2, more Waughs dig in as Pakistan`s batting crumbles again Mark and Steve Waugh dug in for a nervous Australian side after Shane Warne had sparked another dramatic Pakistan collapse on the second day of the third Test here Friday. Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 68 - the last four wick- ets in 19 balls - and were all out for 299. But Michael Slater went in the first over before Australia recovered to 151-3 when bad light stopped play an hour ahead of schedule. Mark Waugh was on 54 his 21st test half century and three runs short of his top score on his home Sydney Cricket Ground and Steve on 26 in an unfinished 60-run stand for the fourth wicket. Australia, with the series already won after substantial wins in Brisbane and Hobart, lost skipper Mark Taylor for 47 soon after tea when he was out to an wild shot at off-spinner Saqlain Mush- taq. His 135 minute innings ended when he was snapped up by wick- etkeeper Rashid Latif leaving his team shaky at 91 for three. David Boon, the second man out, was unconvincing during his 79 minutes at the crease before he edged leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed to Latif to be out for 16. Slater repeated his first over Hobart test flop when he was dismissed off the third ball of Wasim Akram`s opening over for one as Australia had to negotiate two testing overs before lunch. Wasim Akram clipped Slater`s off-stump with an in-swinger as the impetuous Australian opener attempted to drive to claim his 279th wicket in tests. Pakistan crumbled again fell to the spin of Shane Warne who took four wickets for 55 off 34 overs. It was another shameful display by the Pakistan batsmen, saved by Ijaz Ahmed`s 137 the highest score by a Pakistani at the SCG. His 442- minute innings was ended when he hoisted a Shane Warne ball to Glenn McGrath at backward square leg. Ijaz, who came to the crease after only two minutes into the test, faced 332 deliveries, hit two sixes and 17 boundaries. Ijaz was dropped by Mark Waugh at second slip off Craig McDermott when on 104 in the second over of the morning. McDermott took three wickets for 62. Warne now has 191 test wick- ets and McDermott 276. Basit Ali, who cracked a sizzling off drive off Paul Reiffel, was out for 17 when he found Slater at extra cover. Latif lasted 10 balls before he prodded at McDermott and offered a catch to Ian Healy to be on his way for one, sending the tourists to 269 for six. Pakistani skipper Wasim Akram ripped into McDermott`s 21st over, hitting four fours in five balls. Wasim had a life on 18 when he hooked McGrath to long-off where Slater scurrying in the direction of the ball dropped a two- handed chance. Mushtaq Ahmed lasted three balls and spinning partner Saqlain Mushtaq four balls before Wasim was deceived by a slower delivery from McGrath and spooned the ball back to him to be caught and bowled for 21. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 3, 2 Dec 95 Warne wonder ball puts skids under Pakistan - Peter Deeley Third day: Pakistan (299 &101-4) lead Australia (257) by 143 THE ball of the day, the game and the series bowled by who else but Shane Warne may be enough to have broken Pakistan`s spirit at the very moment when they looked to be taking control of this fi- nal Test. Warne `specials` have destroyed many batsmen: his first-ever delivery on English soil to Mike Gatting; the one that bowled Graham Gooch round his legs. Here at the Sydney Cricket Ground the unfortunate was Basit Ali: the moment, the last ball of the third day when the young batsman and the controversial Salim Malik had together taken the tourists ahead by an overall 143 runs, building on a first-innings lead of 47. The build up was extra- ordinary. Two balls before, Warne came within an ace of taking a return catch. Before the final delivery he and wicketkeeper Ian Healy consulted in mid-pitch for a full minute. Then Warne delivered a leg-break pitching some six inches outside Basit`s legs. He stuck out a pad and the ball snaked in, sliding between the batsman`s legs to crash into the leg stump. Pandemonium! Basit looked behind him at the wreckage and walked sadly away. Though it was the close, everyone else, including Malik, stood arounddisbelievingly as 15,000 spectators whooped exultantly. Warne burst out laughing as he was mobbed, then turned his shirt collar up as if to hide his embarrassment at such an out- rageous piece of sleight-of-hand. Eventually he led the Australians off, the team still giggling like mischievous schoolchildren - probably the first time a bowler has had pride of place on the strength of one ball. It will take strength of mind for Pakistan to recover. For once, things were going their way but now there is only Inzamam-ul-Haq of the recognised batsmen to join Malik to build a potential win- ning total. Little can be expected of a tail consistently flat- tened for a handful of runs. What injustice it would be too to the game`s other leg spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed, who has bowled so wonderfully and had previously out-shone Warne. His five wickets gave him 14 in three innings - a terrible rebuke to Pakistan for leaving him out of the first Test. Nothing in the game could surpass the duel between Mushtaq and Mark Waugh at his most majestic, scoring his ninth Test century before Wasim Akram - bowling and captaining so aggressively in this game - had him caught by Mushtaq in the gully. Mushtaq had Steve Waugh stumped dancing down to a leg-break, Greg Blewett bamboozled by the googly, and Healy driving falsely at at another turner. Warne`s sixth over saw Ijaz Ahmed beaten playing back to the top spinner, then Ramiz Raja caught off the glove sweeping. If Warne takes all six remaining Pakistan wickets it would be his 200th in 41 Tests (and he was unfit to bowl at Hobart). Improb- able, but nothing seems impossible to this man. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 3, more Pakistan takes lead in test but falter in 2nd innings - Qamar Ahmed There doesn t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel for Pakistan in the third and final Test being played at the SCG. Their bowlers sweated and clinched the initiative and their bats- men then destroyed it all and let every opportunity slip through their imprudent attitude. The story was much the same even in the third day`s play of the Test in which two leg spinners Mushtaq Ahmed and Shane Warne dom- inated the proceedings. Mushtaq once again weaving his web around the Australian batsmen had provided Pakistan with this golden op- portunity of a 42-run first innings lead. His five for 95 in Australia`s 257 all out was a type of performance which Wasim Akram`s men badly needed to lift them up but in the end he along- with his captain, who had taken 4 for 50, were let down by reck- less batting by Pakistan. An overall lead of 143 with six wickets remaining is not a healthy score, considering that Aamir Sohail, Ramiz Raja, Ijaz Ahmed and Basit Ali are all gone. Basit`s dismissal, on the last ball of the day when he padded the ball from Warne pitched out- side the leg stump and was bowled round his legs, sent shock waves in the dressing room. Of the recognised batsmen only Salim Malik who was at the crease with 21 and Inzamam-ul-Haq who did not take the field all day be- cause of stiff neck were left to save a sinking ship. If the two manage to share a long partnership and Wasim Akram and Rashid La- tif make useful contributions to enhance the lead by another hun- dred runs and over, Pakistan then may have some hope to make Aus- tralia struggle for runs. The disturbing factor for Pakistan however is Shane Warne, who has the ability to spin the ball on a marble let alone on a wicket which is already turning square. To add to his 4 for 55 he is hungry for more. In the second over of the Pakistan innings, Aamir Sohail was dropped in the first slip by Mark Taylor of all the people when he slashed at a Craig McDermott delivery. In the next over, Aamir hooked Glen McGrath for 6 to mid-wicket. But he chanced his arm once too often and was caught by David Boon at point off McDermott when 9. It was slip-shod batting. Having added 16 runs to their tea score of 42, Pakistan lost Ijaz Ahmed for 15 after 40 runs were added for the second wicket. Warnes top spinner wrapped him in front of the wicket. Ramiz Raja swept Warne when 39 and failed as the ball seemingly brush- ing his gloves lobbed in the air to be caught by Mark Waugh. Salim Malik showed a lot of resilience occupying the crease for 76 minutes for his 21 to keep his end intact but saw Basit perish at the other end. The Waugh brothers who earlier in the morning had resumed at 151 for 3, were separated after an 83 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. Steve Waugh was beaten off Mushtaq and was smartly stumped by Rashid Latif for 38. Greg Blewett had no clue against Mushtaq`s googly and was bowled when 5. But Mark Waugh who had started the day at 54 stayed there to reach his century in 239 minutes batting with six fours and a six off Saqlain Mushtaq. From 226 at lunch, Australia crashed to 257 all out fifty minutes after lunch. Mushtaq who had Ian Healy caught at the wicket be- fore lunch took a well judged catch in the gully off Wasim Akram to dismiss Mark Waugh for 116. Akram then had Warne caught by Rashid for 2 and bowled McDermott in the same over - taking two wickets in three balls. A low down catch by Akram at cover off caused McGrath dismissal thus enabling Pakistan to be in the lead which was enjoyable. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 4, 3 Dec 95 Taylor clings to victory hopes - Peter Deeley Fourth Day: Australia (257 & 121-3) trail Pakistan (299 & 204) by 125 runs MARK TAYLOR, Australia`s captain, blunted the threat of the Pak- istan spin attack for 2.5 hours yesterday to leave the home side needing another 126 runs to complete a 3-0 series victory with seven wickets standing. Taylor manfully bore the burden with a mixture of luck, pain, anger and sheer guts as the two Mushtaqs - Ahmed and Saqlain - wove a potent mix of turn and bounce on an increasingly unpredictable pitch. At the close Taylor was still one short of his half-century - not the most memorable in terms of runs scored - but in a match so finely balanced his inspiration in the middle may be the deciding factor. When a game is as taut and tight as this, umpiring can be a thankless task. Pakistan lost half their second innings to leg- before decisions yet just when it seemed that Australia`s large serving of good fortune would swing matters their way, fate gave the tourists a helping hand. The slow bowlers were tiring and Mark Waugh was taking the attack to them, carving Mushtaq Ahmed over midwicket for one six. Then Wasim Akram brought himself back into the attack. He cut a delivery back through Waugh`s guard and though there was clearly no contact, up went umpire Steve Randell`s hand for caught behind. It made up for two marginal decisions Dickie Bird had given in Taylor`s favour in one over when he used his nether regions to fend off Mushtaq Ahmed`s leg-breaks. He had Michael Slater foxed by his googly and could have had Da- vid Boon caught at slip. It mattered little however because Boon, probably in the twilight of his Test career, was then equally fooled by Mushtaq Saqlain. If Pakistan lose it will be because of their slovenly running between the wickets. Their fielding has also been sub-standard: Inzamam-ul-Haq`s miss at slip off Slater must rank as one of the most embarrassing of all time. Inzamam could at least point to his half-century which enabled Pakistan to reach 204 in their second innings as pace bowler Craig McDermott finally found his form with his first five-wicket haul in the series. The last five wickets went down for 19 runs. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 4, more Sydney Test set for tight finish - Qamar Ahmed For Pakistan or for Australia it is going to be a very crucial final day tomorrow in the third Test being played at the SCG. As it is poised, it can go either way. A win for Australia would mean a clean sweep in the series against the tourists and for Pakistan the victory would mean a lot more than a win. It will at least give them some credibility and confidence before they start their three-week tour of New Zealand. Needing 247 runs to take the match and with it achieve a whi- tewash in the series, Australia are precariously placed at 121 for 3 having lost Michael Slater, David Boon and their century- maker of the first innings Mark Waugh. They still require 126 more runs on a wicket on which it is not easy to bat against spinners Mushtaq Ahmed but not difficult either, if Mark Taylor, who is there with 49, and the rest stick to their task to wait, stay and graft the required runs. Pakistan resuming at their overnight 101 for 4 with Inzamam and Salim Malik together took the score to 163 before Malik who had batted responsibly was given out leg before by Dickie Bird when 45. It was a close decision after Malik had added 62 runs for the fifth wicket with Inzamam and had batted for 192 minutes in a bid to take a sizeable lead. From 117 for 5 at lunch Pakistan should have been able to take a big lead but they did not as once again their batting faltered and a collapse ensued. Inzamam 45 at lunch completed his 50 with six fours in nearly two hours batting but then saw wickets tumble. Wasim Akram was leg before to a dicey decision by Steve Randall when McDermott brushed his top end of his pads. Rashid Latif was another unlucky man to be declared leg before to a delivery from Warne which had pitched outside the leg stump when he was 3. Bird`s blunders were innumerable but this was a stunner. Taylor`s superb catch at mid-wicket off a McDermott delivery to get rid of Inzamam was a brilliant piece of work when Inzamam had scored 59. McDermott later had Saqlain and Mushtaq Ahmed in his next over to wrap up the innings and finish with 5 for 49. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 5, 4 Dec 95 Mushtaq leads Pakistanis to belated victory - Peter Deeley PAKISTAN`S victory in this final Test by 74 runs was a real sporting upset, considering the way they had been totally eclipsed by Australia in the first two games. Pakistan had been correctly regarded, on the strength of a brace of heavy defeats, as a side with little batting and less fielding ability, but their bowling carried them to a notable success against the odds - bookmakers were offering 8-1 at the start - and their first win in Australia for 14 years. They fly to New Zealand today with a new-found confidence, when at one time it seemed that the coming Christchurch Test would be a struggle between two international also-rans. Australia on the other hand, despite their 2-1 series success, must learn that there is no room for over-confidence or they could well be taken down another peg by Sri Lanka - who recently beat Pakistan by the same margin - in the series starting this week. Batting fissures have been recognised with Greg Blewett`s exclu- sion from the coming Test at Perth, and Tasmania`s Ricky Ponting makes his debut. David Boon has unaccountably survived. A beaming Mushtaq Ahmed, who took nine wickets for the second Test running, hardly exaggerated when he said: "I think now that I am at the peak of my career." With a bounce in his step and a twinkle in his eye, the Somerset leg-spinner created the kind of panic in his opponents that until now has been almost the copyright of Shane Warne. The tussle between Mushtaq and Taylor, Australia`s captain, as forecast was always going to decide the outcome The two leg-spinners have talked together and compared techniques on this tour, and it was a tip Mushtaq picked up from Warne in the nets that led to the important dismissal of Mark Taylor yes- terday. The tussle between Mushtaq and Taylor, Australia`s captain, as forecast was always going to decide the outcome. When the home side resumed, needing another 126 to win with seven wickets in hand, Taylor was one short of his fifty. He reached it, but quickly lost Ian Healy in an over of breath- taking variety from Wasim Akram: two bouncers, followed by an out-swinger and then one cutting back which took the edge. Then Steve Waugh, his groin tightly strapped, drove at a Mushtaq delivery tossed up outside off-stump, got a fatal inside edge and, with 101 runs still needed, Taylor was really the last line of resistance. He had twice almost fallen to Mushtaq and seemed to lose his ap- petite for the uphill battle at this stage, swinging the bat and getting thick edges. Remembering Warne`s advice for bowling to left-handers, Mushtaq tossed one higher, deliberately wide to tempt Taylor to use his feet. He fell for the bait, missed a top-spinner and was in an undignified heap as Rashid Latif broke the bails. One wonders what might have happened had Mushtaq not been left out of the first Test in Brisbane, where Warne took 11 wickets. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 5, more 3rd Test win World Cup tonic for Pakistan - Qamar Ahmed The victory against Australia by 74 runs in the third and final Test at the Sydney cricket ground today couldn t have come at a better time, that is just a day before the team leaves for New Zealand for a one-off Test and four limited - over games. The Pakistani team deservingly earned a success after their suc- cessive defeats in the first two Tests at Brisbane and Hobart, and the humiliation against Sri Lanka at home. The triumph would go a long way to boost the confidence of the Pakistanis and to reorganise themselves. The fans may be having a different view of the series had Pakis- tan not dropped nine catches in the first Test at Brisbane and had the umpiring, which has been grossly inconsistent in the series, not played its part in Pakistan`s stumble in the second Test at Hobart. But this is all part of this glorious game of uncertainties. One could pontificate and hypothesise but the truth of the matter is that the series is over and Australia has won it 2-1, thus dash- ing any aspirations that Pakistan had of winning a series Down Under. But Pakistan`s fourth Test victory in Australia and their first after their last win in Melbourne in 1981-82 in this coun- try, was well deserved. Pakistan`s captain Wasim Akram cannot be blamed for moaning that the series should have been a five - match contest. Obviously not happy with the umpiring in the series he said, I am not al- lowed to comment on umpiring decisions but we will in the usual manner submit a report to the ICC. Given recent history of the Australians, the run chase of 247 to win was though approachable was demanding. The Test at the start of the day was evenly poised and opened and any one could have snatched it. Pakistan was lucky that they made early inroads and continued to put pressure once they had tightened their grip over the Australian middle order and the tail. With only ten minutes to go to lunch on the final day, Pakistan had completed their demolition job, taking the remaining seven wickets and not allowing any mercy. For this leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed who had a haul of 9 wickets for 186 in the match was as much responsible as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis who struck the final blow by taking three wickets to polish off the tail. In the third over of the day, Ian Healy, the night-watchman edged one from Akram to Rashid Latif when 7. Taylor who earlier on had reached his fifty with five fours in 169 minutes batting, drove dangerously past Mushtaq`s stretching hands for four to long on. Both he and Steve Waugh, who was batting with a runner because of a groin injury were never at ease as Mushtaq and Akram kept them guessing with superb bowling, the former with his shrewd spinners, the latter with swinging deliveries. Driving Mushtaq, Waugh played onto his wicket when 14 and six runs later Taylor ran out of steam to be stumped by Rashid Latif for 59. Waqar Younis brought into the attack then bowled Greg Blewett with a full toss when 14 and shattered Craig McDermott`s stumps in the same over. The collapse continued as Shane Warne hit one of Mushtaq at long off and Saqlain Mushtaq took it comfortably. A few deliveries later Waqar delivered a scorcher to overthrow Glen McGrath for 0. Making runs in the second innings was hard work. Pakistan bowled tight and deserved to win. Shane Warne was the Man of the Series for his 19 wickets and Mushtaq Ahmed, the Man of the Match. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Post match comments Mushtaq emerges as potential challenger Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is facing a new challenge his status as the ultimate match-winner for any cricket Test side is under threat from Pakistan counterpart Mushtaq Ahmed. Warne, Australia`s most prolific bowler in recent years, earned the man-of-the-series award by capturing 19 Pakistan wickets as Aus- tralia beat Pakistan 2-1 in the three-Test series. But the bowler who revived the art of leg-spin has found himself challenged by the diminutive Mushtaq, whose nine-wicket match haul helped lift Wasim Akram`s side to a 74-run victory in the third Test on Monday. His victims at the Sydney Cricket Ground included Warne, who looked as confused and baffled as the other Australian batsmen by Mushtaq`s ability to disguise a delivery that spins back into the right-hander. Warne, in contrast, can produce sharper turn away from a right-hander with his standard leg-break delivery in an arsenal further strengthened by his flipper. Warne, the stockier and more experienced of the leg-spin pair, eventually lost his wicket for five after lofting a mis-timed drive to Saqlain Mushtaq at mid-off. Mushtaq`s man-of-the-match performance, which took his tally for the series to 18, earned glowing praise from Wasim, who bracketed the right-arm spinner in the same class as Warne. Mushtaq was overlooked for the first Test in Brisbane, won con- vincingly by Australia, while Warne did not bowl in either Pakis- tan innings in the second Test in Hobart, also won by the home side, after breaking his toe late on the first day. Mushtaq, who attributed some of the credit for his performance to Warne`s influence, said he is playing his best cricket at the mo- ment. Shane is one of the best bowlers in the world because of one thing he never gives the batsman a chance to hit the ball because his line is very good and he is very consistent, Mushtaq said in a post-match interview. I learned one thing from him I get a bit excited because I have not got great patience, but he has great patience. So that is what I tried to do, he said. Warne finished the series with 19 wickets for 198 runs at an average of 10.42, compared with Mushtaq`s 18 for 384 runs at 21.33. Warne has 195 wickets in 41 Tests while Mushtaq has 62 from 20. The figures are enough to make any Test batsman nervous, particu- larly as both Warne and Mushtaq are some years away from what is regarded as a spin bowler`s prime. Source :: Dawn Wire Service Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)