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Mark Waugh and Gilchrist

Faisal Shariff

A splendid hundred from Mark Waugh and a cameo innings from debutant Gilchrist set the tone for an exciting fourth day's play with Australia firmly in the driver's seat at the early end of the third day's play due to rain. Pakistan stands the danger of losing the Test if their batsmen falter in the second innings. The day was dogged by some controversy as, firstly, Blewett was given out to a dubious LBW decision and Ricky Ponting was later shown the finger despite having nicked the ball on to the pad for his first duck in Tests.

Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed started the proceedings on the third morning at the Gabba. Mushtaq who was very expensive the previous day, was again taken to task by Slater. He got stuck into a long hop from Mushtaq in the very first over and pulled it to the fence. Slater relished facing Mushtaq and scored freely and looked good for a double ton.

Wasim bowled well all morning but the pressure he created at one end was released at the other for lack of support from either of the bowlers, who bowled way too short and erred in their line. The Aussie batsmen picked up from where they left off the previous day and Pakistan failed to stem the flow of runs.

Slater got to his 150 of 232 balls, with 23 fours and stayed at the wicket for close to five hours. Pakistan finally managed to get a breakthrough by having Blewett pad up to Mushtaq and Eddie Nicholls raising the finger to a dubious leg before decision. The ball seemed to pitch outside the line of off stump and was turning away from the batsman. Blewett was padding up and offered no shot, prompting Nicholls to raise the finger.

Langer continued his disappointing run with the bat and has now scored 95 runs in his last 8 test innings. Mushtaq tossed one up, giving it more air, and it pitched just short of Langer who, had to reach for the ball, trying to sweep it instead holed out to Razzaq, the extra bounce undid Langer there. The first hour of play produced 62 runs. Mohammed Wasim was struck hard on the instep of his foot, when Mark Waugh drove hard at a wide delivery from Mushtaq Ahmed. Mohammed Wasim had to go off the filed to nurse his swollen foot.

The new ball did the trick for Pakistan and gave them the much-needed breakthrough to prevent Australia from running away with the match. Slater, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting fell within the space of 10 overs. Slater's marathon innings finally came to an end when he dragged one from outside the off-stump off Azhar Mahmood to mid wicket, where Youhana almost made a mess of an easy skier.

Slater had faced 271 balls for his 169 of 271 balls studded with 25 fours and a six. Just before lunch, Steve nicked an outswinger from Shoaib to the keeper Moin. The score at that stage was 328/4 in 88.5 overs. 95 runs came in the pre-lunch session for the loss of 4 wickets.

Ponting departed early trapped in front by Shoaib Akhtar for his first duck in Tests. The snickometer later revealed that Ricky had nicked the ball before it hit the pads. Ricky seemed disappointed with the decision and smiled as he walked past the umpire, making his displeasure at the decision evident.

Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist, playing in his first Test, got together preventing any further collapse and set about repairing the damage. In a brisk partnership the two added fifty runs in 52 balls. Gilchrist in particular was very severe on Mushtaq whom he hit to the fence for five boundaries in one over. Gilchrist got to his 50 in just 46 balls with 8 fours in 69 minutes. The two then reached their century partnership in just 104 balls. The session saw 127 runs being made for the loss of one wicket.

Just before tea, Mark Waugh survived a stumping when on 95. He danced down the wicket to Mushtaq Ahmed not expecting the ball to turn much and completely missed the ball, and so did Moin who had seen the ball do nothing all day. At tea, the Australian score stood at 5 for 455 of a hundred and sixteen overs with Mark on 96 and Gilchrist on 65, with a comfortable lead of 88 runs.

Mark Waugh finally got to his hundred; a well deserved one, of 147 balls with 17 fours. Mark Waugh played some effortless strokes on either sides of the wicket and handled the pace of Shoaib and Akram with ease. There have been doubts about Mark's form of late and this century will put an end to those speculations. Immediately after getting to his ton, Mark Waugh lost his concentration and edged one to Mushtaq and Akram at first slip latched on to the catch to send Australia to 465/6. The123 runs partnership between Mark Waugh and Gilchrist came of 25.4 overs, at a run rate of 4.79.

Adam was finally castled, beaten for pace by Shoaib Akhtar for 81of 89 balls with ten fours. The seventh wicket fell with the score at 485. Shoaib then had Damien Fleming leg before though after the replays the ball seemed to be climbing all the time. Shoaib had got Damien leg before of the first ball he faced but was no balled for overstepping. Fleming got a duck and Australia was well at the end of their innings with 8 down for 486.

Wasim promptly got himself back on and had McGrath fending to a rising delivery aimed at his left shoulder. Youhana at forward short-leg held on to a difficult chance running back from his position.

Pakistan failed to take the last wicket before the showers stalled proceedings for a good twenty minutes. When play resumed Shane Warne chanced his arm against the short stuff dished out to him by Shoaib Akhtar and scored 34 runs laced with 5 boundaries in 45 balls and took Australia past the 500 mark. Akram and Shoaib seemed extremely upset with the wet outfield and kept complaining to the umpire about the wet ball. The idea must have been to prevent exposing their opening batsmen to the last hour of play against McGrath and Fleming.

Pakistan batsmen will have their job cut for them when they come out to bat on the fourth day here at the Gabba. With a lead of 148 runs and an Australian wicket still standing, the Pakis stand the risk of losing the Test.

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