Date-stamped : 06 Nov94 - 14:25 Pakistan v Australia, Test 3 Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, 1 - 5 November 1994. ====> Day 1, 1 Nov 94 Alice in Wonderland did not have so many weird and wonderful ad- ventures as Australia in Pakistan. The first day of the third Test at Gaddafi Stadium began with the news that Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis had both withdrawn from the match amid rumours of another team mutiny in the Pakistan team. It finished with Moin Khan and Ijaz Ahmed seemingly taking the cricket law into their own hands, walking from the field mid-way through the second last over because of shadows on the pitch, seemingly flouting the umpires` ruling to continue. In between, Australia`s hopes of winning the match and saving the series rose and fell half a dozen times. If the Australians were pinching themselves not to have to face Akram and Waqar, they were also kicking themselves for the chances they had missed from Inzamam Ul Haq and Ijaz Ahmed, which cost 100 runs. The day could scarcely have begun more dramatically, with Akram and Waqar separately announcing that they could not play because of injuries. Pakistan officials and the bowlers themselves guaranteed that no uprising was afoot, but given the identity of the players, the circumstances of their withdrawal and the country`s history of instability, the coincidence was too much for many observers to swallow. At any rate, two emasculated teams were named at the toss, nine players different from the 22 who played in the second Test three weeks ago. Australia was without Ian Healy, Steve Waugh and Dam- ien Fleming, who became unavailable late yesterday. With Wasim and Waqar either resting or sulking, depending on your source, Australia would have fancied themselves to make a win- ning score, just as long as they could bowl out Pakistan for a couple of losing scores. They made a promising beginning, for both Pakistan openers were out after just more than an hour. Aamir Sohail (1) top-edged a hook at Glenn McGrath to give wicketkeeper Phil Emery his first Test catch and Saeed Anwar (30) pushed too far across a ball from Shane Warne to lose his leg stump. Meantime, Michael Slater, fielding at third slip, dropped Inzamam from Craig McDermott. For two and a half hours, Australia were made to rue that miss as Inzamam and Salim Malik compiled a third wicket partnership of 123. Inzamam was at times imperious as he clubbed 13 boundaries, but then played back to a ball from Tim May that straightened from around the wicket and was plainly lbw. May`s delight was short- lived, for in the next over, Ijaz top-edged a pull at Warne, only for May to spill a simple catch. If Malik was a captain with a rebellion on his hands, he showed no sign of it, or maybe it was just that the only way he knew to stamp his authority was with his bat. He made a stylish 75, but then cut May behind point where Michael Bevan took a fine, tum- bling catch. Basit Ali followed immediately. Moin came in to crash Warne for six and to bat the day out, or almost... the long shadow of a tree fell across the pitch in late afternoon, seemingly unsighting the batsmen. Umpires Cyril Mitch- ley and Riazuddin conferred, waved play on, conferred again in the middle of the next over, and walked back to their positions. Seconds later, the batsmen were walking from the ground, leaving the Australians rooted to their fielding positions in astonish- ment. But Riazuddin said later he had offered the light to the batsmen, who had accepted. The confusion may have arisen because the conversation between umpire and batsmen was in Urdu, and therefore unintelligible to the Australians. It is like that sometimes in Wonderland. ====> more *** Champion fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis both with- drew from the Pakistan team minutes before the start of the third Test this morning, arousing suspicions of another player mutiny. Rumours quickly swept the Gaddafi Stadium of an uprising against the captain Salim Malik, and were just as quickly scotched. ``That is not the reason they are not playing,`` said chairman of selectors Imtiaz Ahmed. ``It has never come up again.`` Waqar said: ``No, nothing like [dissatisfaction with the cap- tain]. I am happy. I don`t know about Wasim, but I am.`` Akram, who was clearly troubled by a sore back in the pre-match warm-up, said: ``I don`t want to take the risk of a breakdown during the game.`` Asked at the toss what was ailing Waqar, Malik walked a few paces, smiled and said indifferently, ``Hamstring.`` Asked which hanstring, manager Intikhab Alam said: ``Both. [Pause, smile] Right.`` It was left. Akram was the previous captain, Waqar led the revolt that deposed him, Malik was the compromise choice. Commentators smelled a rat today and the scent will remain until the team to tour South Africa and Zimbabwe is announced. Thanks :: Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald. Contributed by David.Mar (mar@Physics.su.OZ.AU) ====> Day 2, 2 Nov 94 There was magic in Shane Warne`s fingers, but the rest of the Australians were wringing their hands last night after two more crucial catches had slipped through them in the third Test at Gaddafi Stadium. The face value of the missed chances was to al- low Moin Khan to make his maiden Test century and Pakistan to ac- cumulate 373. But when the interest is calculated on Saturday, it may well be seen that they cost Australia their opportunity for a rare win in Pakistan, and for a tied series. Australia were 2-107 at stumps, with opener Michael Slater un- beaten on 60 and nightwatchman Phil Emery wiser by an over to the fierceness of Test cricket. Moin, whose highest score in 11 pre- vious Tests was 32, rounded out a memorable day in the shadow of the stumps, literally, when he held a sharp catch standing over the stumps from off-spinner Akram Raza to send David Boon back for five. Warne took 6-136 from 42 Herculean overs in Pakistan`s first in- nings, his second five-wicket return of the series and his seventh in 29 Tests. His 15 wickets in the series thus far sur- passes the 14 taken by Bruce Reid and Tim May in 1988, and lies behind only Richie Benaud`s 18 here in 1959. Personally, he can be considered to have conquered another opponent and land, but victory in Pakistan remains as elusive for Australia as it has been for 35 years. For that, they can blame an extravagance in the field they could not afford even before the series began, when coach Bob Simpson declared that it would be so close that fielding might determine the outcome. Sadly, Australia have proved their own point. Australia dropped Moin twice this morning, adding to the two catches they missed yesterday, costing altogether 176 runs, but just as vitally allowing Pakistan to bat well into the afternoon when they might have been all out last night. Australia have missed 12 chances altogether for the series. Moin`s century today was an eventful innings, with two chances and an overnight reprimand from referee John Reid, and was com- posed not so much of outright brilliance as of perseverence, pluck and luck. Moin was missed at 51 by wicketkeeper Phil Emery and 70 by point fieldsman Michael Bevan, both from the bowling of the unfortunate and ultimately wicketless Craig McDermott. The morning came down to a pitched battle between Moin and Warne. Delivering from around the wicket and turning the ball prodi- giously, the bowler tied the batsman down. But at last one con- nected and skimmed away to the square leg fence for the boundary that took him to 100. The Australians applauded, but in a desul- tory manner. Moin has been able to get under their skin since the 1992 World Cup, and his walk-off in the flukey light last night did not endear him to them. Spared the perils of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Australia made a smart beginning, Slater striking the ball crisply. When Taylor (32) attempted to lift the scoring rate by advancing on Mushtaq Ahmed, he picked out Saeed Anwar at short mid-wicket. Boon followed seven overs later to Raza`s arm ball and Moin`s snappy catch. *** Match referee John Reid has put Pakistan batsman Moin Khan and umpires Riazuddin and Cyril Mitchley back in their place - on the field. Reid investigated an extraordinary finish to play last night when Moin and Ijaz Ahmed walked from the field with nine balls still to be bowled because they felt shadows falling across the pitch were unsighting them against the new ball. It emerged later that Riazuddin had agreed they could leave, but Mitchley, the interna- tional panel umpire, had not. Reid cautioned Moin this morning for appealing to the umpires about the light, saying that such appeals ``are entirely in the hands of the umpires``. He reminded the umpires that if they disagreed about the quality of the light, ``things shall contin- ue``. In the match`s other peripheral drama, at least four explanations are now circulating for the withdrawal of Pakistani fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Officials stand by the original reason, injury, but there are several sub-clauses. Waqar`s injury is either to his hamstring or his knee, or both, and was sustained variously at the start of the one-day series, in the last qualifying match or in the final. Wasim`s case is even more complex. He is reported to have had trouble with his back, neck and sinuses. Manager Intikhab Alam said he was looking at surgery, though for what ailment was not clear. Another report this morning claimed both bowlers were frustrated at Pakistan`s consistently slow pitches and were not prepared to bowl on them again. Wasim told a radio interviewer simply that he was fatigued from a surfeit of cricket and needed a break. Still, the most probable cause in the minds of long-time ob- servers of Pakistan cricket, including several former players, is that discontent is again fermenting in the dressing room. Thanks :: Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald. Contributed by David.Mar (mar@Physics.su.OZ.AU) ====> Day 3, 3 Nov 94 Torpid pitch, dim light, drifting plumes of wood-smoke and the threat of rain notwithstanding, Australia kept alive the flicker- ing embers of their hopes on day three of the third Test at Gad- dafi Stadium today. The Australians came through a couple of hours of foreboding in mid-afternoon when all the elements, meteorological and human, seemed to be against them. By stumps, Australia were 5-344, with Justing Langer unbeaten on 38 and Shane Warne not out seven - a deficit of 29 runs on the first innings, with two days to play in the Test and the series. Earlier, three potential match-winning innings ended in their prime, with the demise of NSW strokemasters Michael Slater (74), Mark Waugh (71) and then Michael Bevan (91) shortly after tea. The most crestfallen was Bevan, who had survived two chances and a near run-out, but then with his maiden Test century beckoning drove leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed like an arrow to the mid-wicket fieldsman. It was a substitute, Nadeem Khan, and it was no surprise to learn that he was the brother of wicketkeeper Moin Khan, who has already made an unbeaten century and taken three catches in this match. Fate has had a heavy hand on the entire series. The pity was that one by one, all three had seemingly defeated a conspiracy of dim light, dull pitch, Pakistan`s defensive bowling and their elaborate delaying tactics. Even umpire Riazuddin seemed to assist, interrupting play a number of times for no ob- vious reason and bemusing even his colleague, Cyril Mitchley. Australia`s other loss was a true casualty. Nightwatchman Phil Emery was struck on the hand by a ball from Mohsin Kamal in the morning, peeling back the thumb nail, drawing blood and forcing him to retire hurt immediately. Coach Bob Simpson said he did not think Emery`s thumb was broken, but he was unlikely to keep wick- et in the second innings. Emery arrived only last week as an emergency replacement wicket- keeper for Ian Healy, who broke his thumb in a one-day match. He becomes the seventh Australian player on this tour to miss some or all of a Test because of injury. Slater followed Emery out in Kamal`s next over, wafting at a good length ball to be caught behind. This was not a pitch for his in- stincts, but he had almost mastered it until this moment. Initially, Waugh and Bevan were also bound hand and foot by the miserliness of the Pakistani spinners and the conditions. But they loosened the shackles in mid-afternoon as they traded sixes at the considerable expense of off-spinner Akram Raza. Waugh went first, his blow taking him to his third consecutive Test half-century, Bevan had a rejoinder in Raza`s next over, and Waugh finished the barrage. Bevan creamed leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed through the covers to register his third half-century in four Test innings. Distantly, Australia`s last hopes of victory could still be made out on the hazy horizon where they had receded. The Pakistanis` prospects of winning were no more distinct, but they probably were not even looking at them, since a draw here was always going to be enough to give them the series. They fiddled with sightboards, meandered between fielding posi- tions, held long councils between overs and appealed frivolously. In another sport, it might be thought of as professionalism, and as such, mistakenly admired. Pakistan declined to take a new ball at all, knowing the old one was harder to hit, that they did not need wickets anyway, and perhaps knowing also Waugh at least would eventually get himself out. At 71, he did, reaching for a ball from Kamal so wide only he could have touched it to the keeper. Again, one was left with that Mark Waugh feeling, not knowing whether to rejoice in 71 runs so beautifully made in such testing conditions, or regret he had not stayed twice as long for twice as many. Bevan journeyed on, sometimes sublime, sometimes streaky, remembering always that the light was never better than dull and worse for a while in mid-afternoon when great plumes of wood- smoke drifted across the ground. There was a caught-and-bowled chance to Mushtaq at 42, a miscued hook from Kamal that was almost held by Nadeem at fine leg, and it was Nadeem again who threw down the wicket at the non- striker`s end with Bevan stretching. It needed the third umpire`s protracted decision to clear him, but he was out next over. Justin Langer`s contest with the pitch and the attack was like an arm wrestle, with plenty of exercise on both sides, but not much movement. Langer must be admired, for he showed no regard for his own Test career, but only for the cause of the team. He accepted the umpires` light offer with four overs still to be bowled, probably as much for Warne`s protection as much as his own. Thanks :: Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald. Contributed by David.Mar (mar@Physics.su.OZ.AU) ====> Day 4, 4 Nov 94 Australia scored 455 in their first innings, 82 runs more than Pakistan, on the fourth day of the third and final Test at Lahore on Friday. The tourists, who need to win to level Pakistan`s 1-0 lead series, folded their innings 35 minutes after lunch with the departure of Glenn McGrath off leg-spinner Mushatq Ahmed for three. Resuming at 408 for seven at lunch, Australia added 47 runs. McDermott who made 29 was caught and bowled by spinner Mushtaq. Phil Emery, who had retired with an injured thumb Thursday, came to bat again after McDermott`s dismissal. He remained not out on eight. Kamal took four for 75 while Mushtaq was relatively expensive, capturing four for 116. Contributed by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@Central.Sun.COM) ====> Day 4, more Rules were bent, tempers tested, cautions issued - and still it is possible for Australia to win the third Test. At stumps on the fourth day at the Gaddafi Stadium Pakistan were 55 runs ahead with five second-innings wickets standing. The most prized of them is captain Salim Malik, whose 59 not out is his second half-century of the match. It was he who saved the second Test for his country with a double century. At his shoulder is Aamir Sohail, who was taken to hospital after being struck on the head by Craig McDermott in the first innings. He was not supposed to bat at all in the second, but answered his team`s emergency call. It was a roller-coaster of a day for Malik. In the morning he was warned by the umpires for his team`s wilful dithering in the field, was given a vote of confidence by the absent Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, and engaged the Australians in several sharp conversations as the good humour of the series was tried to the limit. There will be no love lost tomorrow. The umpires summarily modified a rule to allow a technically ineligible batsman to open Pakistan`s second innings in Sohail`s place. Tension, drama and high-quality cricket have been the em- blems of this series, but this was an extraordinary day even by the standards of the 13 preceding it; who would dare to predict where it will all end? Even the starting time confounded expectations. It was put back to 10am by the managers at a dinner last night, throwing Shane Warne, who is usually last on to Australia`s bus, but who sudden- ly found himself with half an hour to kill. Australia spent the first half of the day establishing an 82-run first-innings lead, the third time in the series that it has held that advantage. Justin Langer played resolutely for 69, his highest Test score, until he was out to Ijaz Ahmed`s inspired one-handed catch at backward point. Warne (33) shared 84 with Langer for the sixth wicket to pilot Australia into the lead. McDermott spiced the balance of the innings by crashing Mohsin Kamal for four consecu- tive boundaries, which at least put paid to the bowler`s postur- ing. The tide of the match was turning, and the Paksitanis betrayed their nervousness by bowling just 24 overs in the morning ses- sion, a dragging of the feet that brought a stern caution for Malik from the umpires. More is certain to be heard from the match referee John Reid. The day was just warming up. Under an experimental rule, Basit was ineligible to open Pakistan`s second innings because he had been off the field with gastric problems for the bulk of Australia`s first innings and so could bat no higher than No 7. After an investigation, Reid said that in allowing Basit to bat, the umpires had gone outside the letter of the law to keep faith with its spirit, and that the rule itself would need to be rede- fined. At the moment, the rule could be ignored in exceptional cir- cumstances ``other than injury or illness``. But, Reid said, ``illness in this part of the world is a common thing.`` After four overs it became academic when Basit flashed at McDermott and was caught behind for two, giving the only Pakistani feeling sick. Inzamam Ul Haq (3) was brilliantly caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Phil Emery from McDermott, McGrath produced an un- playable away-cutter to defeat free-hitting Saeed Anwar (32) and Ijaz (6) was ruled lbw to McGrath`s toe-crusher. McGrath`s adre- nalin was pumping, and his spell was as good as any he has bowled for Australia. Australia were through to Pakistan`s wicketkeeper and were still in front. That wicketkeeper, Moin Khan, had made a century in the first innings, but after steering Pakistan narrowly into the lead he lashed at off-spinner Tim May and was caught at backward point for 16. Pakistan were then 5-107. There would be no more wickets in the last three-quarters of an hour, but a few runs and a lot of words. The most terse exchange was between Malik and McDermott, soon joined by Emery and then Australian captain Mark Taylor. The air was taut as they walked off at stumps. Thanks :: Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald Contributed by David.Mar (mar@physics.su.oz.au) ====> Day 5, 5 Nov 94 A record stand of 196 runs between Pakistani captain Salim Malik and Aamir Sohail for the sixth wicket helped Pakistan salvage a draw in the final Test on Saturday and win the series 1-0 against Australia. Australia`s dream of levelling the series was shat- tered by Pakistan`s last five wickets during which the home side piled on 267 runs to bolster there poor overnight score of 137-5. Most of this was due to the superb stand by Malik and Sohail, who scored 143 and 105 runs respectively, surpassing the previous best stand of 191 by former captains Imran Khan and Wasim Akram in the 1989-90 season against Australia in Adelaide. "I am delighted to win the series," said Malik. "It was great a chal- lenge for me and the team with Pakistan tottering at 107 for five in the second innings. We had to play for draw which we did." "Australia is a very fine team and to win a series against them is an achievement," he said. "I hope we will continue to perform in the same esteem when we go to South Africa and Zimbabwe," Malik said. International Cricket Council (ICC) referee John Reid congratulated both teams and the captains for handling minor problems. "The matches were all played in right spirits and although South Africa did not win a match," he said. "They took a couple of close results well and I am sure will be a force to be considered very seriously in future." "It has been a pleasure to watch Australia and Pakistan, two very competitive teams struggle for supremacy over three test matches in the true spirit of the game of cricket," he said. Malik`s 13th Test century in his 80th Test included 12 fours in 248 minutes batting. By lunch the two had pushed Pakistan`s slim 55 run lead up considerably with the score on 234. Malik contin- ued frustrating Australia`s bowlers after the break until Michael Bevan finally bowled him for 143, which included 19 fours. Malik took another record -- becoming the highest scorer in a series between the two countries, beating Graham Yallop`s 554 against Pakistan in 1983-84 by three runs. Sohail batted on to reach his second century in 19 test appear- ances, including 16 fours, in partnership with Akram Raza. At tea Pakistan were 363 for seven and finished their final day`s play with 404 allout. Akram Raza was leg before to Warne on 32, followed by Aaqib Javed, bowled for two by Warne. The two wick- ets trook Warne`s tally to 18 wickets in the series, equalling Richie Benaud`s score against pakistan in 1959-60, the only away series that Australia has won in their seven visits to Pakistan. Mushtaq Ahmed was caught by Emery off Glen McGrath. He made 27 runs. Contributed by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@Central.Sun.COM) ====> Day 5, more The last twist was that there was no twist. Pakistan captain Salim Malik struck a glorious 143 in the third Test in Lahore yesterday and for the second match in a row drove away the threat of defeat. Malik`s century followed his double ton in the second Test, the two innings effectively securing the series for his team. Aamir Sohail understudied Malik in a sixth wicket partnership of 196, a record in Pakistan-Australia Tests, and proceeded to make 105, a brave performance since he had been ordered to rest after being struck on the head by Craig McDermott in the first innings. Now it was Australia that had a headache. Malik was finally out to the first delivery from Michael Bevan, an occasional spinner who chose medium pace instead and caused Malik to play a lavish drive into his stumps. But Pakistan were already 220 in front with four wickets standing and barely two and a half hours remaining. The rest of the day became an exer- cise of catch-me-if-you-can. Australia couldn`t. Australia`s consolation prize was that Shane Warne`s late pair of wickets took him to 18 in the series, equalling Richie Benaud`s record for an Australian bowler in Pakistan. No-one else took more than 10. Warne and Malik were named men of the series. Pakistan won the first Test by one wicket, and therefore the series, Malik`s third triumph in three series as skipper and his most important. Malik made 557 runs at 93 in this series, also a record for Australia-Pakistan Tests, surpassing Graham Yallop`s 554 in five Tests in 1983-4. It has been very much a case of leading from the front by a man who seemed no more than an interim captain when appointed in January. Certainly he has risen in the estimation of Australia, against whom he had made just two half-centuries before this series. Malik was unanimously the player of the series but some of his tactics over the last two days were regrettably near to cheating. He and Sohail were so tardy arriving on the field that play started two minutes late, costing at least an over that might have proved vital. Play was later interrupted while sightscreens and a car were moved and Malik had spray applied to a bruised hand. Australia`s tempers simmered, and at one point Malik pulled away from his stance twice, whereupon umpire Cyril Mitch- ley intervened from square leg. At least Australia could not be said to have died by their own hands. There was only one dropped catch, when Malik, already past 100, edged Mark Waugh and wicketkeeper Phil Emery flung him- self in vain. No Australian bowler could make an impact. A ball in Shane Warne`s first over turned a metre past Malik and Emery to run away for three byes, but on a pitch as torturously slow as this there would be no further alarms. Malik lived more dangerously after lunch but his risks were cal- culated against the certainty that his team could not be beaten. So finishes a series that had everything to recommend it except an Australian win, a joy they have not known in Pakistan since 1959 and will not know before 1988. They did themselves an in- justice, for they should have won at least one Test and had op- portunities in all three, and the fact that they did not grasp them can be put down to the 13 catches they dropped. This was the one that got away. Thanks :: Greg Baum, Sydney Morning Herald Contributed by David.Mar (mar@physics.su.oz.au)