RAWALPINDI,Oct.8:
A 107-run 5th wicket partnership between Ricky Ponting (88) and left-handed Darren Lehmann (103) lifted Australia to 328 for 7 in 90 overs in their first innings against Rawalpindi Division Cricket Association (RDCA) here on the first day of the four-day match at the KRL Cricket Stadiumon Thursday.
At the stumps Gavin Robertson (35) and Michael Kasprowicz (5) were at the crease.
Within the first hour of the opening session, some energetic bowling spells from pacers Jaffar Nazir and Azhar Mehmood sent three Australian batsmen back to the pavilion at the total of 50. The divisional association missed an easy opportunity to further demolish the tourists'moral when Mohammad Wasim put down a sitter from Justin Langer in second slip at the total of 63 off the bowling of Jaffer.
Rawalpindi were relieved to see opener Michael Slater, who had found beautiful rhythm since the start of the tour with a double ton at Karachi and a century in the first Test at Rawalpindi, wasthe first to be sent back at the total of 10. A boundary on the off was the only runs he got before mistiming a hook off Azhar and the top edge was nicely caught by Jaffar at deep fine leg.
Opening partner and skipper Mark Taylor (13) was the next to wicket to fall as 15 runs were added with Mark Waugh. For Taylor bad run continues on the tour as he miscued shot off Jaffar's last ball of fifth over to give a simple catch to Azhar at mid-wicket. Taylor faced 19 balls in 48 minutes of play. But, even worse was his disposition by the end of the day when he received a deep cut in the palm of hisright hand while trying to climb over the security fence after finding the gate locked. Taylor was proceeding towards the nets to get some batting practice and instead returning to the gate, which was open, tried the short cut. He was later taken to a hospital to receive tetanus injection. There were no stitches butthe hand was bandaged, the team manager said.
Trying to pull a bouncer from Azhar, Mark Waugh (1 off 12 balls) also fell in almost similar fashion as Jaffar grabbed the mistimed shot at fine leg. Australia were 50 for 3 in 14.1 overs.
Australia were taken out of troubled waters as left-handed Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting shared a fine partnership to steer the tourists to 101 for 3 in 27 overs at lunch.
However, soon after lunch, Langer (42) was clean bowled by left-arm spinner Shakil Ahmed. Langer and Ponting made 57 for the fourth wicket to propel the total to 107 for 4.
Left-handed Darren Lehmann who was preferred over Ponting for the first Test at Rawalpindi for his excellent performance with bat yet again proved his mettle with a scintillating 103. It was also his first century for Australia. At Rawalpindi, his innings of 98 was short of just two runs what could have been his maiden Test hundred.
Lehmann faced 146 balls in 193 minutes to reach his hundred against RDCA before getting caught while attempting to hit a boundary off Jaffar. He was caught at square leg by Shakil who grabbed the ball on his second attempt. Lehmann hit 10 fours and two lofted sixes.
Much before that Ricky Ponting's gutsy innings of 88 off 120 balls spanning 157 minutes was brought to an end by Shakil when Moham-mad Naveed grabbed the ball coming off batsman's glove at the total of 214 just before tea. Ponting and Lehmann shared a solid 107 runs fifth wicket partnership.
Tea was taken at 220 for 5 in 56 overs with Lehmann at 49 and Healy at 1.Wicket-keeper Ian Healy (15 off 46 balls) who was dropped at a personal score of 3 off spinner Shahid Javed at wide mid-wicket failed to build on the chance given to him. He was caught at long off by Naveed off Shakil.
Off spinner Gavin Robertson (35 off 60 balls) and pacer Michael Kasprowicz (5 off 27 balls) will resume Australian innings tomorrow.
The divisional association packed with batsmen and taking the field one bowler short have so far done well. Left arm spinner Shakil claimed 3 for 97 in 29 overs, Azhar took 2 for 68 in 19 overs and Jaffer grabbed 1 for 56 in 17 overs.
A chancy but potent 108 runs opening wicket partnership between Mohammad Naveed (48) and Asif Mehmood (51) failed to inspire a pre-dominantly Test middle order as Rawalpindi Division Cricket Association (RDCA) slumped to 196 for 7 against Australia's first innings total of 355 all out here on the second-day of the four-day match at KRL Cricket Stadium on Friday.
RDCA will resume their first innings with Azhar Mehmood (13) and Shakeel Ahmed yet to score on the third morning of the side game.
On the second morning, the local pace battery led by Azhar Mehmood and Jaffar Nazir did exceptionally well to bowl out the tourists with the addition of mere 27 runs to their overnight total of 328 for 7. Azhar removed Michael Kasprowicz (8) and Gavin Robertson (42 off 78 balls) while Jaffer had Damien Fleming caught behind by skipper Nadeem Abbasi for nought. The last three wickets of Australia fell in 9 overs and 40 minutes of play.
Mohammad Naveed and Asif Mehmood opened the innings for RDCA. There were some anxious moments especially when Naveed edged a few which instead of getting caught fell either short or went through the slip and gully area for fours. Kasprowicz became a little lethargic over not getting the batsman out. However, the two settled down to steer RDCA to 69 without loss at lunch.
The defiant opening stand of 108 was getting difficult for the Australians when into the 41st Asif Mehmood was extremely unlucky for being adjudged leg before off Kasprowicz by umpire Javed Akhtar after the batsman went well forward as the ball hit him. Asif (51) played a gem of an innings, neutralising the Australian pace and spin with accuracy. His innings was studded with 9 boundaries. He faced 126 balls in 166 minutes.
Two runs and two overs later, opener Naveed, son of RDCA secretary Ashraf Qureshi, was clean bowled by off spinner Gavin Robertson. Naveed's chancy innings of 48 came off 134 balls in 176 minutes.
This followed the pre-dominant Test middle order batsmen which was required to closely watch the Australian bowling strength and try to adjust their footwork and click into rhythm. However, this was not to be as instead of consolidating a fine opening wicket stand of over hundred, a great opportunity was lost. Mohammad Wasim (8), Inzamam-ul-Haq (5), Ijaz Ahmed (33) were back in the pavilion with the addition of mere 59 runs as RDCA slumped to 167 for 6. It was the end of a disappointing innings of Test batsmen.
Mohammad Wasim who was joined by Inzamam aafter the depaeture of Naveed, was run out just before tea. After striking the ball towards square leg, Wasim called for the single which Inzi denied and asked Wasim to go back. Left-handed Darren Lehmann fielding sent in an accurate ball to world record holder of most dismissal Ian Healy who took off the bails to find Wasim out of the crease. Wasim who was striking the ball well faced 21 balls in 23 minutes and also hit a four. At tea RDCA were 122 for 3.
Soon after tea, Inzi made exit on an irresponsible stroke as he came charging out on Colin Miller and was caught at mid wicket by Michael Slater. Inzamam faced 8 balls. RDCA were 126 for 4 in 49 overs.
Ijaz Ahmed being given a chance to prove his form by the selectors, appeared in a hurry as he was charging most of the balls. His innings of 33 off 65 balls in 70 minutes included 3 strokes to the fence and a six off Robertson towards square leg.
He fell to Darren Lehmann while charging out and was caught by Miller. Ijaz shared a 41 runs 5th wicket partnership with Shahid Javed (11) who lifted his head trying to hit out Robertson and was caught by Fleming at mid wicket. Javed got out at the same total of 167.
Azhar Mehmood and skipper Nadeem Abbasi (11) added 27 runs for the seventh wicket when Kasprowicz clean bowled RDCA captain just before close of play.
For Australia Kasprowicz took 2 for 69 in 17 overs and Robertson claimed 2 for 50 in 19. However Colin Miller who also bowled two overs as medium pacer was hard to be hit away, his figures of 1 for 33 in 23 overs had 10 maidens. Lehmann grabbed 1 for 3 in 5 overs with 4 maidens.
Australia's man in form, left-handed Darren Lehmann, romped to his second hundred in the match as the tourists tallied to 265 for 8 in their second innings on the third day of the four-day match against Rawalpindi Division Cricket Association (RDCA) at the KRL ground on Saturday.
The visitors, who dismissed the home team for 261, enjoy an overall lead of 359 with two wickets still intact. The tourists had scored 355 in their first innings. But the best news for Australia is that skipper Mark Taylor is finally among runs on the tour.
His 56 came off 121 balls in 155 minutes and includes two strokes to the fence. Taylor who came in to bat at number three would resume Australia's second innings with Ricky Ponting (1) who came out to bat at number nine.
Ponting is lucky to be back in the field after he was rushed to hospital on Friday evening because of food poisoning. But the bad news for the tourists is that their main run-maker Darren Lehmann has a suspected groin injury. He was escorted back to the dressing room by physio Pat Farhart just after he had reached his century.
Lehmann, when just two runs short of his century of tour, started limping. It was later learnt that the batsman was pulled out as a precautionary measure.
Lehmann in explosive mood fired away 16 boundaries a six off Shakeel to reach 100 off 95 balls in 116 minutes. He shared a 93-run fourth-wicket partnership with skipper Mark Taylor.
The home team after struggling all day long, fought back in the last 30 minutes when they picked up five Australian wickets conceding just 16 runs.
Left-arm spinner Shakeel Ahmad grabbed four of the five wickets. He finished the day with six for 61 from 23 overs to take his tally of wickets to nine.
Earlier, RDCA's last three batsmen added 65 runs to raise the total to 261 in 99.3 overs. Overnight batsmen Azhar and Shakeel added 31 runs for eighth wicket when Fleming trapped Azhar in front of the wickets. Azhar's 67-ball 33 includedthree boundaries and a six.
Jaffar (15) and Zahir Shah (0) were caught behind off Colin Miller and Michael Kasprowicz respectively. Shakeel remained not out at 28 off 64 balls in 100 minutes.
Kasprowicz finished with 3 for 92 while Miller claimed 3 for 38 in 28 overs including 13 maidens. Robertson took 2 for 50.