MELBOURNE, 30 December 2004 — Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting scored unbeaten half-centuries to guide Australia to a record fifth series win of 2004 yesterday, beating Pakistan by nine wickets in the second Test. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne combined to take seven wickets in Pakistan’s second innings of 163, which left the home side chasing 126 to win.

Australia started their innings shortly before lunch yesterday’s fourth day of play, losing Justin Langer for five in the second over, caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Sami.

Hayden (56 not out) and Ponting (62 not out) added 116 in 102 minutes for the second wicket against an injury-depleted Pakistan attack as Australia reached 127 for one. Ponting clubbed leg spinner Danish Kaneria over long-on for six to hit the winning runs in the 28th over.

Australia, who won the first Test in Perth by 491 runs, hold an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The third Test starts in Sydney on January 2. The home side had claimed a first innings lead of 38 with their total of 379 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, led by man of the match Damien Martyn’s 142.

With Pakistan chalking up 341 in their first innings, the hosts had appeared to be in trouble when they were reduced to 203 for five.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said he hoped to regain injured captain Inzamam ul-Haq for the Sydney Test but the touring side would be without Sami (bruised heel), Abdul Razzaq (dizziness) and Shoaib Malik (hand injury).

Pakistan had resumed their second innings on 85 for five with an overall lead of 47 runs yesterday. Sami (11) fell leg before wicket to Jason Gillespie and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal failed to settle as he was out for a duck to leave the visitors on 101 for seven. All-rounder Malik scored a courageous 41 with four fours and two sixes despite split webbing in his right hand.

Malik’s knock came to an end when he misjudged a delivery from Warne (3-66) and was caught at mid-on, lifting the world’s leading wicket-taker to a total of 561 victims.

In the following over McGrath (4-35) struck with his second ball of the day, removing Razzaq for 19 and four overs later bowled Shoaib Akhtar for 14 to end the innings.

Aussie Cricketers Donate Team Prize Money to Asian Disaster Fund

Australia’s cricketers have donated their winning prize money from the Boxing Day Test to the disaster relief funds of the South-East Asian tsunami and earthquake victims.

More than 56,000 people were killed in the massive earthquake and tidal waves that struck Indian Ocean shorelines last weekend, amid warnings the true toll could be far higher.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting announced the team’s gesture after Australia’s nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

Ponting said the figure was around $17,000 and promised there were more fund-raising initiatives in the pipeline.

Pakistan Propose Tsunami Relief

Match to Sri Lanka, India

In Karachi, Cricket officials in Pakistan, which was spared from a deadly tidal wave that devastated neighboring countries, yesterday proposed to Sri Lanka and India that a flood-relief one-day fundraising match be organized to help the victims.

“We have sent a proposal to them pressing on the need to organize a relief fund match for the victims of the devastation caused by the earthquake and tsunami in India, Sri Lanka and other parts of the world,” Shaharyar Khan, chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, told a news conference.

“We are as devastated as the other people are and feel that we must do something through cricket,” he said. The match could be between Pakistan and India, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka or between an Asian XI or World XI “as soon as we get time,” Khan said.

PCB has also sought the International Cricket Council’s approval, he said.