Close Australia 467 and 127 (Shoaib Akhtar 5-21, Saqlain Mushtaq 4-46) and 467 lead Pakistan 279 (Faisal Iqbal 83, Rashid Latif 66, Warne 7-94) by 315 runs
Scorecard

A spell of terrifying fast bowling from Shoaib Akhtar, combining with some crafty spin from Saqlain Mushtaq, made for a magical period of play in which Pakistan gave themselves an outside chance of winning a first Test in which they were thoroughly outplayed for the first two days. Australia were bowled out for 127 in a prolonged post-lunch session, as all ten wickets tumbled for 82 runs.

A light drizzle brought the covers on before Pakistan could begin their quest for the 316 runs they need to win -- a tall order for a weak batting line-up against a formidable bowling attack and Pakistan have chased 300-plus target only once, against Austrlia in 1994-95 -- and play was called off an hour later with the rain still coming down, the visibility poor and reports of a storm blowing over Kandy, some four hours away from Colombo. But by all reckoning, the most ferocious storm of the day was over and it blew away arguably the best batting line-up in the world.

Shoaib, reintroduced to the attack after Australia had cantered to 74 for 1, produced one of the most hostile exhibitions of fast bowling in recent history. He captured five wickets for eight runs, including three in one over, to devastate the Aussies. Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh and Steve Waugh were blown away in the space of four balls, and Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne followed shortly afterwards.

Ironically, it was a lazy error from Ponting, Australia's first-innings hero, that precipitated the collapse. Ponting attempted a casual cut to a short and wide one from Shoaib but only managed am undercut onto the stumps (74 for 2).

But there was nothing fortuitous about the carnage that followed. Mark Waugh had his stumps shattered next ball by a deadly inswinging yorker, Steve Waugh survived the hat-trick delivery precariously, inside-edging just past the stumps, but perished next ball, caught rooted to the crease and rapped on the pads right in front.

But the best ball of the lot was reserved for Gilchrist: a scorching yorker that rocketed into Australia's most dangerous batsman and hit the base of his leg stump even before the bat could come down.

Warne was Shoaib's fifth victim, caught plumb in front, and if Australia had a temporary reprieve it was only because Shoaib walked off the field to nurse a niggle. But almost unnoticed, Saqlain had got to work from the other end, and in no time Australia were all out for a score which was at least 150 less than they would expected.

Saqlain, who had made the made the breakthrough for Pakistan, inducing a top-edge from Justin Langer's attempted sweep (61 for 1), got a lucky decision from umpire Venkat, who adjudged Matthew Hayden caught at silly point when the ball appeared to have made no contact with the bat. After Shoaib's burst, Hayden was the fourth top-order wicket Australia had lost in the space of six delirious deliveries.

Saqlain then ended a 19-run eighth-wicket partnership by snaffling Brett Lee for 12 and rounded off the innings by getting Damien Martyn to top-edge a sweep to short fine leg. It was stunning stuff.

That Pakistan would have any chance at all seemed unlikely in the morning session. They avoided the follow-on, but a first-innings deficit of 188 looked to be terminal.

The duel between Warne and Faisal Iqbal, the showpiece yesterday, lasted just one ball this morning. Warne, bowling around the wicket, got one to spin across Faisal, and Mark Waugh took a splendid diving catch to pick up the resultant thin edge (219 for 5). Faisal's 83 off 85 balls served notice of his abundant talent, but Pakistan still needed 49 more to make Australia bat again.

Then Rashid Latif got stuck in, with the help, perhaps, of a fairy godmother. He was dropped three times, but hustled Pakistan past the follow-on target with some agricultural hitting before, on 66, a mistimed swipe was finally picked up by Martyn at midwicket (274 for 9).

The others were no match for Warne, who finished up with 7 for 94. Saqlain and Waqar Younis both went lbw, and Shoaib slogged to long-off. Australia's second innings started assertively, and by lunch they had raced to 45 for 0, a lead of 233. It was all over bar the shouting - but Shoaib still had something to say.

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