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Saqlain spins Pakistan back into Test

Saqlain Mushtaq took six wickets, including three in one over, as Pakistan fought back from the brink of disaster on the second day of the second cricket Test against Australia at Bellerive Oval today.

The Pakistani off-spinner mesmerised Australia's batsmen to finish with career-best figures of six for 46 as Australia lost their last nine wickets for just 55 runs to be all out for 246 in reply to Pakistan's first innings total of 222.

Pakistan, who need to win the match to keep the three-Test series alive after losing in Brisbane by 10 wickets, quickly erased the 24-run deficit to reach 61-1 by stumps for an overall lead of 37 with nine second innings wickets in hand.

Australia had appeared to be heading towards a massive first innings lead after cruising to 191-1 midway through the second session before Saqlain turned the game around with a brilliant spell of deceptive bowling.

The 22-year-old made the vital breakthrough when he claimed the wicket of in-form opener Michael Slater for 97. He then set about carving his way through the rest of the Australian batsmen.

He dismissed Justin Langer for 59 with the total on 206, then cleaned up Adam Gilchrist (6) and Shane Warne (0) in successive deliveries.

Saqlain came heartbreakingly close to a hat-trick when wicketkeeper Moin Khan almost stumped Damien Fleming first ball. Fleming was given the benefit of the doubt by the third umpire.

But Saqlain got Fleming four balls later when he rapped him on the pads. He then finished off the Australian innings when Glenn McGrath played forward and was caught short of his ground as Moin whipped off the bails.

Pakistan could have been in an even better position but for their appalling display in the field.

Slater was dropped four times and Australia picked up at least a dozen extra runs from sloppy misfields and overthrows.

Slater, who scored 169 in Brisbane after he was dropped on 99, seemed destined to make another hundred before his luck finally deserted him three runs short of the three-figure mark.

He was dropped by Saeed Anwar on 36, Mohammad Wasim on 49, Ijaz Ahmed on 68 and then Wasim Akram on 97. He chanced his arm once too often, top-edging a leg side full toss from Saqlain straight to Ijaz at square leg.

It was the seventh time in his Test career that Slater had been dismissed in the 90s. The only batsmen to have been left stranded in the 90s more often are Australia's current captain Steve Waugh (nine times) and retired West Indian batsman Alvin Kallicharan (eight times).

Slater's failure to reach his hundred was all the more disappointing for him as he had played an uncharacteristically patient innings.

He and fellow opener Greg Blewett took Australia's overnight score of 29 without loss to 76 before Blewett was caught behind for 35. Blewett edged a good length delivery from Azhar Mahmood to Moin, who held a good catch diving to his right.

Slater and Langer then added 115 for the second wicket before Slater tried to smash Saqlain to the fence, ending an innings that had spanned 250 minutes and 193 balls and featured 10 boundaries.

His departure marked the start of Pakistan's fightback as they cleaned up the last nine wickets in 101 minutes to set up an intriguing contest with three days remaining.

Saqlain's final figures bettered his previous best Test performance of five for 32 against Zimbabwe last year and was the ninth time he had taken five wickets in a Test innings.

Australia hit back when they picked up Mohammad Wasim for 20 with the score on 50.

First Test century maker Anwar and nightwatchman Saqlain guided the tourists safely through to stumps. Anwar belted a six off Warne and four fours on his way to 36 after making a duck in the first innings.

Scoreboard
Australia (1st innings) (overnight 29-0):
M Slater c Ijaz Ahmed b Saqlain Mushtaq 97
G. Blewett c Moin Khan b Azhar Mahmood 35
J. Langer c Mohammad Wasim b Saqlain Mushtaq 59
M. Waugh lbw Waqar Younis 5
S. Waugh c Ijaz Ahmed b Wasim Akram 24
R Ponting b Waqar Younis 0
A.Gilchrist st Moin Khan b Saqlain Mushtaq 6
S.Warne b Saqlain Mushtaq 0
D. Fleming lbw Saqlain Mushtaq 0
G. Mcgrath st Moin Khan b Saqlain Mushtaq 7
S. Muller not out 0
Extras (b-2, lb-6, nb-5): 13
Total (80 overs): 246
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-191, 3-206, 4-206, 5-213, 6-236, 7-236, 8-238, 9-246, 10-246
Bowling: Wasim Akram 20-4-51-1 (nb-4), Shoaib Akhtar 17-2-69-0, Waqar Younis 12-1-42-2, Saqlain Mushtaq 24-8-46-6, Azhar Mahmood 7-1-30-1 (nb-1).

Pakistan (2nd innings):
Saeed Anwar not out 36
Mohammad Wasim c McGrath b Muller 20
Saqlain Mushtaq not out 0
Extras (b-2, nb-2, w-1): 5
Total (for one wicket, 24 overs): 61
Fall of wicket: 1-50
To bat: Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Azhar Mahmood, Moin Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar.
Bowling: McGrath 6-2-14-0 (nb-1), Fleming 5-2-11-0, Warne 7-2-22-0 (nb-1), Muller 6-2-12-1.

UNI