MELBOURNE: Nathan Hauritz starred as Australia dominated the second day of the first Test in Melbourne to leave Pakistan struggling to avoid the follow-on. The hosts declared at 454-5 and in reply, Pakistan were 109-4 at stumps — a deficit of 345 — with Umar Akmal on 10 and night watchman Mohammad Aamer on naught.
Ricky Ponting called his batsmen in after night watchman Nathan Hauritz was out for a career-best 75 in a quick-fire partnership of 72 with Michael Clarke, who finished unbeaten on 28. Hauritz was the fifth Australian to make a half-century in the innings, after Shane Watson (93), Simon Katich (98), Ponting (57) and Mike Hussey (82).
Skipper Mohammad Yousuf was dismissed off the penultimate ball of the day after a referral from Ricky Ponting. Umpire Billy Doctrove initially rejected the appeal for caught behind to a ball down leg side from Siddle. They called for a review of the decision and the hot spot technology confirmed contact had been made to the glove and the decision was overturned.
Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson, Hauritz, Doug Bollinger and Siddle bowled a combined total of 17 maidens as Pakistan scored at a rate of 2.22 per over.
Johnson made the first breakthrough when he trapped Imran Farhat lbw, before Hauritz had Faisal Iqbal caught by Michael Clarke.
Salman Butt put up some dogged resistance but he needed nearly three hours to make 45 before falling lbw to Watson, and Siddle wrapped up a fine day for the home side with the wicket of Yousuf.
Much of the pent-up frustration of the previous day’s run-out was released when, from the beginning of his spell, Watson hooped the old ball both ways. His set-up of Butt was one to make Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, Pakistan’s pioneers of reverse swing, proud — a succession of away-swingers followed by one which attacked the pads and survived a video appeal.
