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Langer, Ponting put Australia in command

Faisal Shariff

Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting scored half centuries to put Australia in command at the end of the first day in the third and final Test against Pakistan at the WACA today.

The pair shared an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 117 to steer Australia to 171 for four after Pakistan had been dismissed for 155.

Langer continued where he left off at Hobart, scoring 63 by stumps, while Ponting, who had three successive ducks previously, was on 62.

Australia, who lead 2-0 lead in the three-match series, looked to be in total control after ripping through Pakistan's batsman in less than four hours before Pakistan struck back in the final session.

Waugh lost the toss for the first time in the series and was not particularly unhappy about it since Wasim Akram opted to bat. Pakistan have had some good scores this series but have not realised the importance of spending more time at the crease. They have time and again scored at a very brisk pace and allowed Australia to time their innings and call the shots. That is one of the reasons why Pakistan lost the first Test despite scoring in excess of 300 in the first innings.

Pakistan started on a bad note with Glenn McGrath bowling with that extra zip which many felt he lacked through the series thus far. He got the wicket of Wajahatullah Wasti in only his third over of the morning, when Wasti nicked one from him to Ponting in the slips.

Ijaz Ahmed followed him soon after scratching around for 19 balls and scoring a single, when he drove loosely at a Fleming outswinger and dragged the ball onto his stumps. McGrath dismissed Anwar when he just pushed at the delivery and edged to Ponting at third slip, to leave Pakistan struggling at 3 for 26.

Youhana and Inzamam set about repairing the early damage caused by the top order collapse. They put on 24 runs and seemed to be at ease against the pace attack of McGrath and company.

McGrath bounced Youhana out by digging one deep and forcing Youhana to go for the hook eventually, managing to just get his gloves to the ball and Gilchrist took a great catch, diving full length to his left just managing to grab the ball. The score at that stage was 50/4.

Kasprowicz snapped up Inzamam just before lunch when he pushed at an outswinger got a thick edge and was caught by skipper Waugh at gully. Pakistan were struggling at 83 with half their batsmen back in the hut. Pakistan took lunch with the score at 85/5 in 27 overs. McGrath bowled particularly well and grabbed 3 wickets for 29 of his 12 overs.

Pakistan batsmen, Moin and Azhar Mahmood came out firing all guns after lunch in an attempt to get some quick runs on the board. Azhar Mahmood was on a death wish and was given three lives, two in one Fleming over. Azhar was dropped by Slater and then by Gilchrist who went for a catch which would have been a regulation chance for first slip and made a mess of it.

Azhar Mahmood was dropped again, this time by skipper Waugh. Azhar Mahmood finally succumbed to Fleming edging him to Shane Warne at first slip.

Moin departed soon after splicing a short ball from Fleming. Fleming took a difficult skier running around non-striker Wasim Akram and finally taking the ball inches from the ground. Moin was the second highest scorer with 28 runs off 55 balls.

His dismissal brought the stubborn Saqlain Mushtaq at the crease who alongwith his skipper Wasim Akram failed to keep the scoreboard ticking. They managed to score 13 runs in the ten overs they faced. Saqlain departed trying to play an ambitious drive off Kasprowicz only to find the ball in the hands of Greg Blewett at backward point. Saqlain scored 7 runs of 31 balls.

Saqlain's dismissal triggered a collapse as Kasprowicz snapped up the last two wickets of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Akram in the same over as well. Shoaib was done in by a beauty; the ball pitched on leg and squared him up to take the off-stump.

Kasprowicz is on a hat trick when he bowls again in the second innings.

The Pakistan innings folded up in 52 overs and lasted for 242 minutes. Kasprowicz picked up 4 wickets for 53 runs off 12 overs. McGrath and Damien Fleming picked up three wickets each.

Australia got off to a bad start as well when Wasim Akram had Michael Slater trapped in front for no score. The ball hit Slater on the back leg and it seemed to be a good decision.

That brought the hero of the second Test, Justin Langer to the crease.

Wasim opened with Mohammed Akram instead of Shoaib Akhtar and the bowler immediately justified in the change by claiming the wicket of Greg Blewett with the score on 28 in the 6th over. The ball flew of Blewett's bat and Azhar Mahmood, standing at second slip, lunged for it and left it at the last second for Inzy to finish a superb reflex catch standing at first slip.

Mark Waugh who seemed to be struggling against Mohammed Akram scratched around for about 21 minutes without opening his account before edging one from the nippy Mohammed Akram into the hands of third slip where substitute fielder Ghulam Ali took a clean catch.

Nine balls later, Steve Waugh bobbed a ball from Mohammed Akram for Youhana to grab a dolly at forward short leg for 5.

The Australians seemed to be heading for a collapse, when Ricky Ponting and Langer got together to steady the innings. The two put on a 100-run partnership in the next 20 overs.

Mohammed Akram picked up three important wickets but was pretty expensive; his 11 overs conceded 66 runs. Shoaib bowled way too short and had a lot of problems controlling his no balls. In his first over he kept overstepping the line and at one stage had 4 consecutive no balls.

The Australians subdued the Pakistan bowling attack and kept milking runs to end the day at a healthy 171 in 38 overs. Ponting and Langer reached their respective half-centuries with ease and look good for big scores.

The Pakistanis have little hope of winning this game unless they pick some early wickets tomorrow morning and reduce the lead. Failing which Australia seems set for a 3-0 sweep of this series.

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