Date-stamped : 11 Nov95 - 10:29 Tour Match: South Australia v Pakistan Adelaide Oval, Adelaide 2,3,4,5 November 1995 ====> Prematch, 1 Nov 95 Malik returns to face bribe accuser Former Pakistan captain Salim Malik emerged from an eight-month exile from first-class cricket on Thursday to face the bowler whose bribery charges contributed to his suspension. Malik took to the field at Adelaide Oval in the four-day tour match against a South Australia side, which included test off-spinner Tim May, one of three Australian players to accuse the veteran batsman of offering bribes. Despite the controversy surrounding the bribery row, Malik said he enjoyed playing in Australia. "I always enjoy playing here. It's always a difficult tour... but it's tremendous," Malik was quoted as saying in Thursday's Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. His inclusion in Pakistan's line-up against South Australia suggests Malik will bat in the middle order in next week's first test against Australia in Brisbane -- where he is likely to face his other two accusers, Shane Warne and Mark Waugh. Malik's selection, less than 48 hours after he arrived in Australia, would complete a remarkable return given his lack of match practice. "I never touched a bat when I was banned from test cricket," said Malik in an interview with Sydney's Telegraph-Mirror newspaper published on Thursday. Malik said he would need two practice sessions in the nets each day to regain fitness. Malik was sacked as captain and suspended by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in March after leg-spinner Warne and batsman Waugh joined May in alleging Malik offered money for them to play poorly last year. Malik's suspension was lifted two weeks ago when he was exonerated of the charges by an internal inquiry, clearing him for selection on Pakistan's current six-week tour to Australia. During his exile, Malik was overlooked for the home series against Sri Lanka in September, the first series Pakistan have lost at home in 15 years. "I thought when I missed the series against Sri Lanka they were never going to pick me again, so I just played golf," Malik told the Telegraph-Mirror newspaper. "When you are going 100 percent for your country and you are performing as well as I was last year, and you are kicked out, you feel very disheartened," Malik said. Malik has been under intense media scrutiny since joining his teammates on Tuesday, with May, Warne and Waugh all standing by their charges of bribery. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) has backed the players, rejecting the Pakistan inquiry findings and criticising the International Cricket Board for failing to conduct an inquiry. May, responding to the Pakistan inquiry's findings that the Australian players' statements appeared to have been concocted, threatened on Tuesday to take legal action against anyone who repeated the suggestion. Source :: Reuter Contributed by Syed.Ali (sma@dcs.ed.ac.uk) ====> Day 1, Lehmann takes centre stage away from Malik, May A century from Darren Lehmann took centre stage away from Salim Malik on the opening day of Pakistan s four-day cricket match with South Australia here Thursday. Malik`s appearance here was his first since becoming embroiled in a bribery scandal which emerged in February this year, and was also his first with one of his Australian bribery accusers Tim May. The solid left-hander, who has for several seasons been on the fringe of the Australian test side, was unbeaten on 109 with wicketkeeper Tim Nielsen on 42 as South Australia reached 282 for four at the close after winning the toss. Much of the lead-up to the match was focused on Malik s meeting with May, but the only time the two came close to each other was at the nets during the morning practice session. Neither ap- peared to acknowledge the other. Lehmann, 25, completed his 19th first class century but only his second against a touring side. He took 206 minutes and 162 balls to reach his 100. Pakistan got away to a great start when skipper Wasim Akram trapped Paul Nobes lbw in the third over for a duck. Test team member Greg Blewett (28) and opener Ben Johnson (54) withstood a difficult early period in which Wasim and Aqib Javed used the humid conditions to beat the bat on many occasions. Both players survived confident caught behind appeals before off- spinner Saqlain Mushtaq (3-102) bowled Blewett as he went to off- drive. His departure sparked Johnson into action and the ensuing 109- run stand with Lehmann set South Australia up for big first innings total. Shortly after clinching his third 50 in his 10th first class match, Johnson tried to cut Saqlain but edged to wicketkeeper Moin Khan. Captain Jamie Siddons belted 20 off 27 balls before he was neatly stumped by Moin off Saqlain just before tea. Thanks :: Dawn Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 2, 3 Nov 95 Salim Malik`s unhappy return to crease - Qamar Ahmed It was not much of an outing for either Salim Malik or his accuser Tim May who both had their turn at the crease but both failed. Malik, coming at the fall of the third wicket with Pakis- tan tottering at 75 for 3, survived only nine balls for his seven runs before being caught at the wicket off left-arm medium-pacer Mark Harrity and May, who was earlier on dismissed without scor- ing having played 10 deliveries in South Australia s 392 for 8 declared, and remained wicketless too. Pakistan s reply, at the close of the second day of the four-day game, was 199 for 5, a relatively respectable recovery after four wickets had gone for 84 runs as South Australia resuming at their overnight 282 for 4 declared at lunch. The crowd of near 2,000 thus missed the eye-to-eye contact that they had been looking forward to between Malik and May. He was out before May could come on to bowl. May, like Malik, also walked in somberly to be greeted by two successive bouncers by Aqib Javed. He, however, did not stay long enough to face another. There was no reaction from the fielders of either side as the two perished. Malik s dismissal must have been distracting for the Pakistan batting lineup which had already lost Salim Elahi, Aamir Sohail and Ramiz Raja. But Basit Ali and Inzamam-ul-Haq salvaged the innings with a solid stand of 88 for the fifth wicket in 111 minutes batting. Basit was still there at the close with a defiant and gritty 64 to his credit, having hit seven fours in 147 minutes batting. With Moin Khan, he added another 27 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket stand. Salim Elahi, who opened the innings with Aamir Sohail, was given out caught at the wicket without scoring. Sohail and Ramiz batted attractively to add 67 for the second wicket. Sohail hooked one from Harrity straight into the hands of Jason Gillespie at long leg having made 34 with three fours and Ramiz too played a care- less uppish drive to mid-off to be caught off McIntyre for 33. Nine runs later Malik went and Pakistan at tea were 91 for 4 and seemed struggling. Inzamam and Basit then took charge to post 50 of the stand in 63 minutes with some crisp drives and cuts. Basit followed up his 50 at Perth with another half century reached in 93 minutes with five fours. The partnership started to pose problems for the home side bowlers when Inzamam missed one off McIntyre and was bowled leg stump for 39. Earlier in the morning South Australia lost their fifth wicket within 35 minutes of play when Nielson played onto Ata-ur-Rehman for 57, having added 137 for the fifth wicket with Darren Leh- mann. Lehmann`s innings after he had made 138 with 16 fours was ended by Wasim Akram. Both the batsmen were dropped early on by Basit and Ata off his bowling. Gillespie put on 57 with James Brayshaw for the seventh wicket and May was the eighth man out. Thanks :: Dawn Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 3, 4 Nov 95 Pakistan facing defeat despite Basit`s century - Qamar Ahmed South Australia, with 249 for 5 and an imposing lead of 365 on the second innings were in full control of the match at the end of the third day of the four-day game at Adelaide Oval. Despite a gritty century by Basit Ali, who made 137, the home side bowled Pakistan out for 276 runs in their first innings to take a sizeable lead of 116. They later slumped to 13 for 4 in the second innings as Wasim Akram the Pakistan captain picked up four wickets for seven runs in a fiery spell of five overs. Akram later had to leave the field to have some attention on his thigh muscle which turned out to be the turning point for both Pakistan and South Australia. The fifth wicket pair of Jammie Siddons and talented Greg Blewett then posted 201 runs for the fifth wicket to put South Australia in a commanding position. Their partnership lasted 279 minutes and was finally ended by Aamir Sohail who ran Siddons out for 125 his 29th first class century which contained 11 fours and four sixes off Saqlain Mush- taq and Ata-ur- Rehman. He had batted for 182 minutes, his partner who had reached his hundred with nine four in 260 minutes stay, was still there at the close with 103. A declaration is now almost certain and Pakistan tomorrow will have to try and save their pride to earn a draw to before the first Test which is round the corner. For this they have to bat with a lot of concentration which they do lack. Resuming the third day`s play at 199 for 5, Pakistan lost Moin Khan in the second over of the day for 17 without any run added, Akram was caught at gully for 0 off Jason Gillespie and Ata-ur- Rehman was caught at the wicket by Tim Nileson off the same bowler but then in amazing stand of 68 for the ninth wicket which was dominated by Basit Ali, Pakistan managed to save the follow- on. Of the partnership Saqlain had added only one run as Basit took most of the strike to reach his century in 197 minutes bat- ting with 12 fours and a six off leg-spinner Peter McIntyre. South Australia at lunch were five for the loss of Ben Johnson who was leg before to Akram who after lunch picked up three more wickets to make the hosts 13 for 4. Paul Nobes was leg before as he played back, Darren Lehmann, the century-maker of the first innings was caught at the wicket and James Brayshaw was caught at the wicket off an outgoing delivery. But then Siddons and Blewett took charge to salvage the innings. At 43 Siddons was dropped by Ata-ur-Rehman off Saqlain for which they had to pay the price. Pakistan captain Wasim Akram warned the Australians what to ex- pect next week with a sensational four-wicket spell , before a 201-run partnership steadied South Australia. Wasim rocked South Australia on the third day of the tour match with a dynamic five-over spell at just the right time for the la- bouring tourists. The pressure on the South Australians eased when Wasim limped from the field with what appeared to be a bad leg injury. But he returned and later dismissed the injury as nothing more than a minor thigh strain. Wasim, who has 261 Test wickets and forms a lethal new-ball attack with Waqar Younis - not playing here this week - finished with 4-43 off 13 overs. Wasim was the talking point when he ripped though openers Paul Nobes (who completed a pair) and Ben Johnson as well as first in- nings centurion Darren Lehmann, who were all out without scoring. He also had James Brayshaw caught by wicketkeeper Moin Khan for three. Apart from Wasim`s early spell, Pakistan`s most promising sign of the day was Basit Ali`s sensational century which fol- lowed his match- saving 69 not out against Western Australia last week. The Karachi-born right-hander`s majestic 137 included 19 fours and a massive six off leg-spinner Peter McIntyre`s first over of the day. His lone hand saved the visitors the embarrassment of being forced to follow on. Speedster Jason Gillespie scorched through the tail in the first hour of play to dismiss Moin (17), Wasim (0) and Ata-ur-Rehman (0). Basit had to rely on 18-year-old off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq to provide the support at the other end to push Pakistan out of danger. The pair added 68 runs for the ninth wicket with Saqlain s contribution just one run. Thanks :: Dawn Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> Day 4, 5 Nov 95 Accuser May dismisses Malik in tour match May, one of three Australian test players to accuse Salim Malik of offering bribes, dismissed the former Pakistan captain on Sun- day in their first direct confrontation on the field since the scandal erupted. Malik, who was cleared of the bribery charges last month by an internal inquiry in Pakistan, fell cheaply when he was stumped for 16 in Pakistan's tour match against South Australia. His departure left Pakistan struggling to avoid defeat in their last tour match before the first test against Australia, starting in Brisbane on Thursday. Chasing a victory target of 366 in three sessions, the tourists were 203 for five at tea on the fourth and final day at Adelaide Oval. Off-spinner May, who has threatened to take legal action against anyone who suggests he concocted his charge against Malik, appeared jubilant when he dismissed the veteran right-handed batsman. Early in his spell, May appeared to have words with Malik as the two rivals crossed paths in the middle after a Pakistan run. It was Malik's second failure with the bat on his return to first-class cricket after an eight-month exile in the wake of the bribery scandal. His swift dismissal during Pakistan's first innings on Friday prevented a direct confrontation at the wicket with May, one of three Australian players to accuse Malik of offering money for them to play poorly last year. Former Pakistan Supreme Court judge Fakhruddin Ebrahim, who headed the bribe inquiry in Pakistan, said May and fellow Australian test players Shane Warne and Mark Waugh appeared to have concocted their sworn statements against Malik. South Australia captain Jamie Siddons introduced May into the attack on Sunday after Malik had been at the crease for three overs. After lofting a delivery from May over mid-wicket for four, Malik was dismissed when he attempted to repeat the shot four overs later. Malik charged down the wicket only to lose his balance, giving wicketkeeper Tim Nielsen an easy stumping and prompting a celebration by the home side. After coming together with their side reeling at 79 for four, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Basit Ali steadied Pakistan's second innings with a century partnership for the fifth wicket. But Pakistan's ambitions were checked just before tea when fast bowler Mark Harrity trapped Inzamam lbw for 96. Basit Ali remained 49 not out at the break. South Australia, who scored 392 for eight in their first innings before dismissing Pakistan for 276, declared their second innings on 249 for five after close of play on Saturday. Source :: Reuter Contributed by Syed.Ali (sma@dcs.ed.ac.uk) ====> Day 4, more Century in each innings by Basit in drawn game - Qamar Ahmed The much-awaited confrontation between Salim Malik and Tim May, the man who alongwith Shane Warne and Mark Waugh had accused the former Pakistan, captains of offering them bribes late last year in Pakistan was over with a showdown at the Adelaide Oval in which May came out the winner, not in a court of law but in the match between South Australia and Pakistan which ended in a draw. May had Malik stumped in his sixth over by Tim Nielson after the former captain had opened his account with a single on his fifth delivery and had survived for 52 minutes for his 16 laborious runs, during which he also struck a glorious four off him to mid-wicket and appeared to have exchanged a few words with him as well. Rather animated Malik played a sweep shot too early off him when he was left stranded. May showed no emotions at the dismissal except that he ran all the way to the keeper and was greeted by both arms by him and the rest. May`s elation over Malik`s dismissal was however short-lived be- cause though he won the battle, he lost his place in the Aus- tralian team which was named to play in the first Test against Pakistan starting on Nov.9 in Brisbane. He remained wicketless in the first innings and proved rather expensive in Pakistan`s match-saving 295 for 5 in the second innings in which he conceded 87 runs for one wicket as Basit Ali with an unbeaten 101, his second century of the match, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who missed his by four runs, took the measure of him. Having declared at their overnight 249 for 5 and with an overall lead of 365 runs, South Australia had dented Pakistan`s batting having taken four wickets for 70 runs and looked set for a win but their aspirations were dashed by Inzamam and Basit who put on 124 runs for the fifth wicket in 142 minutes and by Moin Khan who while making 38 added 95 runs for the sixth wicket to earn a draw. With the consent of the captains and with no result in sight the match was called off with nine overs remaining. Pakistan had started disastrously with Aamir Sohail running him- self out while taking a sharp single. Greg Blewett`s throw hit the stumps with only 18 runs scored. Ramiz Raja chased an outgo- ing delivery from Jasen Gillespie into the hands of the keeper when 10 and young Salim Elahi mishooked one from Mark Harrity straight into the hands of the long-leg fielder when 7. May, brought in the fourteenth over, then accounted for Malik after he had added 35 with Inzamam. Pakistan batting woes seemed to continue and defeat loomed when lunch was taken at 93 for 4. But in the second session 101 runs were added with Pakistan los- ing only one wicket, that of Inzamam who batted magnificently for his 96. Never letting an opportunity slip he reached his 50 in 111 minutes with four boundaries and posted the fifty stand with as much gritty Basit in 65 balls and was past the hundred partner- ship in 122 minutes. In the last over before tea he was leg be- fore playing across a Harrity delivery. But he had done his job in 208 minutes stay in which he had struck nine fours. Basit was luckier. He was dropped twice, once when 34 off May by Peter McIntyre and later when 78 by Jamie Siddions in the second slip off Gillespie, the medium-pacer. But he had full use of the lapses by reaching another century in the match. Like Inzamam he batted sensibly and with lot of application to get to his hundred in 230 minutes batting having hit 13 fours and a six of Harrity. He raced to his hundred taking 20 runs off Harrity`s five deliveries. Moin Khan was as much exhilarating. Thanks :: Dawn Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu) ====> more May`s day against Salim - Peter Deeley 'SALIM MALIK st Nielsen b May 16.' It was the scoreline all Aus- tralia would have paid to see: poetic justice, exquisite retri- bution - and it cost those present here yesterday a mere 50 pence (children free.) The timing, too, was perfect. The Australian Cricket Board had just received a message from Sir Clyde Walcott, chairman of the ICC, effectively writing finis to the bribery allegations which have rocked cricket, when two of the protagonists came face to face in the middle. The board were pressing for a new inquiry: Sir Clyde said no, though agreeing it was "most unfortunate" that the full text of the inquiry by the Pakistan judge - which cleared Salim and cast aspersions against his accusers - should have been published. In the published text Tim May calls Salim "the rat" in a conver- sation when Shane Warne relates what he claimed was an attempted bribe to "under-perform" in the Karachi Test a year ago. Against such a backcloth the tension at the Adelaide Oval was evident for all to sense when Salim walked out in Pakistan`s second innings and May almost immediately took the ball. The off-spinner had appeared to duck the confrontation during Salim`s first knock. This time May could hardly wait, egged on by a Sunday crowd of 4,000, allowed in for just a dollar. A gang of boys chanted their own version of the old children`s song Nick Nack Paddy Wack, Give a Dog a Bone, adding the line Send This Pakistani Home. Then came the coup. May bowled a short, do-nothing ball wide of off stump, Salim charged, and missed Then another group held up a banner reading "If O J Got Off So Can I" and adorned with Salim`s picture. When he saw it, the player raised both arms in acknowledgement. May crowded the bat but Salim played him trouble-free for four overs. In the fifth, there was the briefest exchange of words after Salim had pulled the spinner through midwicket for four. Then came the coup. May bowled a short, do-nothing ball wide of off stump, Salim charged, missed clumsily and as the wicketkeeper smashed the stumps, the batsman fell in a heap. May was beside himself, swamped by his colleagues, as Salim dusted himself down and disappeared, jeered by the crowd. Besides the taste of revenge, it doubled May`s total of wickets for the season to date. There was one more oblique comment to come on the Salim affair. Basit Ali, who retired from the game, along with his team-mate, Rashid Latif, in protest against Salim`s captaincy on Pakistan`s tour of Zimbabwe, scored his second century of the drawn game to demonstrate how close his country came to losing a player of enormous potential. He is in prime form as the first Test ap- proaches in Brisbane this week. Inzamam-ul-Haq was leg-before four short of his hundred but the rest of the batting is looking fragile. These are not the only burdens the tourists` team manager, Inti- khab Alam, is carrying. One moment he is assailed by the Salim case; the next his team are accused of ball-tampering. Yet it seems that on both issues the verdict will be "not proven". Intikhab says he has had a message from the Australian board say- ing that the case of alleged ball-tampering in the first tour game in Perth "is over and closed". The ICC made it clear in a statement issued at the weekend that they do not have the power to intervene in the bribery allega- tions. But Sir Clyde has asked chief executive David Richards to prepare proposals which could give the council authority in fu- ture. The Australian board are meeting today to consider whether to make one last appeal to the ICC to act. The likelihood is that this is the end of the matter - though Warne may speak through his bowling if Salim is facing him in Brisbane. Australia: *M A Taylor, M J Slater, D C Boon, M E Waugh, G S Blewett, S R Waugh, -I A Healy, S K Warne, C J McDermott, P R Reiffel, G D McGrath. TOUR MATCH (Adelaide): South Australia 392-8 dec and 249-5 dec (G S Blewett 105no, J D Siddons 125); Pakistan 276 and 298-5 (Basit Ali 101no, Inzamam-ul-Haq 96). Match drawn. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by The Management (help@*ogi.edu)