'Golden arm' Amin strikes again for Pakistan
Umar Amin again belied his reputation as a part-time medium pacer to
help Pakistan remain on top in the second Test against Australia at
Headingley here on Thursday.
Australia were 62 for two in their second innings, still 108 runs
behind, at tea on the second day at Headingley here on Thursday.
Ricky Ponting, the Australia captain, survived a couple of lbw
appeals while padding up to be 18 not out and Michael Clarke was
unbeaten on two.
Opener Shane Watson, whose six wickets for 33 runs earlier in the day
saw the medium-pacer to a Test-best bowling return for the second time
in as many matches, helped Ponting add 40 for the second wicket. But
Watson, on 24, fell to an even more unheralded bowler than himself when,
trying to cut Amin, who'd dismissed Marcus North in the first innings,
he played on to leave Australia 55 for two.
Amin, at tea, had figures of one for six in four overs.
Australia had been shot out for just 88, after once more struggling
against the swinging ball in overcast English conditions, on
Wednesday.It was their lowest Test total since the West Indies dismissed
them for 76 Perth in 1984. Australia's second innings at Headingley also
began under grey skies.
And when opener Simon Katich was bowled round his legs, after
shuffling across the crease in trademark fashion, by left-arm quick
Mohammad Aamer, Australia were 15 for one. And the 18-year-old Aamer,
who took one wicket for 10 runs in five overs before tea, might have had
Ponting lbw for nought when the star batsman padded up and played no
stroke to an inswinger. But Rudi Koertzen, in the South African's last
Test as an umpire, ruled in Ponting's favour.
Watson, who took two wickets Wednesday, produced a post-lunch burst
of four wickets for seven runs in 13 balls as Pakistan were bowled out
for 258.
That still left Pakistan with a healthy first innings lead But
Australia have won their last 13 Tests against Pakistan and in January
triumphed by 36 runs at Sydney despite a first innings deficit of 206.
AFP
|
