COLOMBO, 6 October – Shoaib Akhtar, well known as the “Rawalpindi Express”, ran through the mighty Australian batting in one of the most remarkable fightbacks in Test history to set the first match for a tantalizing finish on the third day at the Saravanamuttu Stadium here yesterday.

Just managing to avoid the follow-on after being restricted by a rampaging Shane Warne to 279 in their first innings in reply to the Australian first innings score of 467, Pakistan fought back tenaciously to shoot out the world champions Australians for just 127 in their second innings.

Shoaib took five wickets in 15 balls as Australia, comfortably placed at 61 without loss, dramatically capitulated, losing all their 10 wickets for the addition of 66 runs.

Chasing 316 runs for victory, the Pakistani openers went back without a ball being bowled due to bad light. Play was held up as a slight drizzle began to fall. Umpires Steve Bucknor and Srinivas Venkataraghavan made two inspections before calling off play at 5 p.m.

Shoaib declared to newsmen immediately on returning to the dressing room: “I want to be the greatest fast bowler in the world. I want to be the best against the best.” He said it was one of his most memorable performances and would be doubly sweet if Pakistan win the Test.

Shoaib continued: “I have been having problem with my rhythm and injuries but today everything went well.” Skipper Waqar Younis was highly pleased with his team. “I am confident we will win this Test. And if we win the Test, we will win the series,” he added. This was Shoaib’s fifth haul of five wickets in an innings in his 22nd Test and cost 21 runs.

Off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq also gave a sterling performance to take four wickets for 46 runs.

Earlier, Shane Warne’s leg-spin had virtually mesmerized the Pakistani batsmen as the experienced leg-spinner took seven wickets for 94 runs to restrict Pakistan’s first innings. This is the 22nd five-wicket haul in innings for Warne playing his 102nd Test. Warne’s tally of wickets is 457 and he is the second highest behind leader Courtney Walsh with 519.

Overnight batsmen Faisal Ali 83 and Rashid Latif 66 were the most successful Pakistanis as they avoided the follow-on.

Faisal Iqbal became Warne’s first victim yesterday after he had added only five to his overnight score of 78. Mark Waugh in slip held a low catch to his left.

Pakistan’s cause was helped by several dropped catches as they slowly neared the target of 268 to avoid the follow-on. Rashid Latif was the luckiest to be reprieved twice and got to his sixth Test half century in 32 Tests off 86 balls with the help of eight fours.

Warne was virtually unplayable as he had Saqlain trapped in front as he played back and totally missed the line. Waqar used the bottom handle to smash a quickfire 14, including a mighty heave off Warne over the rope. But he fell in trying to put away a Warne full toss to become his fifth victim of the innings. Pakistan at 267 for eight needed just one more run to make Australia bat again. Latif was next to go as he swept Warne for Martyn at short midwicket to take a fine catch. Latif made 66.

Shoaib went in an attempt to hit Warne out of the ground as McGrath ran back several yards and turned around to pouch the ball. The Australian second innings got off to a sedate start with Langer and Hayden not at all troubled by the Pakistani bowlers to go to lunch at 45 without loss. The only incident of note was Shoaib warning Hayden against taking an early start as he came in to bowl. Waqar changed ends for Saqlain and Shoaib after lunch and the move paid immediate dividends. Saqlain, now using the angled run-up had a sweeping Langer caught at short fine leg for 25. They had put on 61 for the first wicket.

However, now began the most sensational period of the Test as Shoaib thundered down to bowl to first innings’ centurion Ricky Ponting. Ponting went for a drive but succeeded only in dragging the ball to the stumps.

Suddenly the match had come alive as Shoaib bowled with fire to york Mark Waugh for a first-ball duck. Steve Waugh prevented the hat trick as he awkwardly edged the first ball he faced. But the next one saw Steve beaten by sheer pace as he missed the line playing forward and was leg before. Shoaib had taken three wickets in four balls without conceding a run. The pitch was now a minefield with each delivery exploding as it pitched. Hayden’s 75-ball vigil of 34 runs ended as he prodded Saqlain to silly point though he was apparently unhappy with the umpire’s verdict.

Shoaib got two more wickets in successive overs. He hit Gilchrist’s leg stump with a superb yorker. He was absolutely unplayable as Warne played forward and was leg before, Australia reduced to 89 for seven.

Newcomer Brett Lee was hit by a beamer from Shoaib and Shoaib got a warning from umpire Steve Bucknor for intimidatory bowling. But he was quick to go and apologize to Lee. Lee was dropped by Younis Khan in second slip in that over of Shoaib. Martyn too was given a life off Shoaib when Younis did not go for the catch in the slip.

Saqlain then mopped up the Aussie tail. He had Lee driving straight to the cover and Martyn swept to fine leg for Imran Nazir to take a simple catch.

In between, Muhammad Sami had replaced Shoaib to take his only wicket of the match by having Gillespie leg before. The Australian second innings lasted 200 minutes and 39.5 overs as tea was delayed to allow the Pakistanis half an hour to claim the last Australian wicket.

Clouds had now gathered overhead as the Australian fielders and the Pakistani openers came out. However, the umpires offered the Pakistanis the option to go back in view of the poor visibility. Consequently all players walked back to the pavilion without a ball being bowled.