Aus Pak T 1 Days 2 & 3: Watson Breaks Test Ton Jinx, But Pakistan Not Out of It

Shane Watson may just give Ricky Ponting a chance to make it to the very top of cricket captains. He certainly broke the jinx of Australians not scoring a century as the first Test against Pakistan on the latter's tour is poised for drama.

shane watson ton

Watson scored his maiden Test century after three previous failed attempts in the nineties, but seventeen year old Mohammad Aamer kept Pakistan in the game at stumps on the fourth day.

Australia went from 111 for three at the end of the third day to being 225 for eight declared on the fourth day, despite Watson's 120 and it was because of Aamer bagging his first five wicket haul in Test cricket.

The third day also saw Pakistan fail to convert three half centuries - a half century for Salman Butt and Umar Akmal each and Misbah ul Haq making sixty-five - to make it count for more. Pakistan found themselves bowled out for 258 against Australia's first innings total of 454 for 5 declared, with Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson sharing the honours with three wickets apiece.

But if Australia thought they had the upper hand, Aamer brought Australia to the ground. Australia then would have been grateful for their 184 run lead which meant that Pakistan were challenged to chase 422 for a win.

The Australian captain's decision to declare a second time in the match may have been considered brave with Pakistan having the better part of five sessions left to give a valiant chase, Ponting is also poised to become the Test captain with the most number of Test wins, forty-two wins, eclipsing his predecessor, Steve Waugh.

But Australia will have to work hard for the win because Pakistan were placed interesting at 170 for three at stumps on the fourth day which means that on the final day, Pakistan need 252 runs with seven wickets still in their favour.

That was brought about through sixty-two run second wicket partnership between Salman Butt (thirty-three runs) and Faisal Iqbal (forty-eight runs) before Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz gave Australia the need breakthroughs.

Pakistan will want to avoid unusual batting collapses, especially with the Pakistan captain, Mohammad Yousuf, batting well on forty-five supported by another surging youngster in Umar Akmal on an unbeaten twenty-seven. If these two can hold fort, nothing is beyond reach.

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