Cricket: Pakistan in trouble

Australian offspinner Nathan Hauritz starred with the bat then made a key breakthrough as his side had Pakistan in big trouble in the first cricket test at the MCG yesterday.

Hauritz made a career-best 75, one of his country's greatest nightwatchman knocks, and broke a key partnership late on day two.

Peter Siddle then made a huge breakthrough on the second-to-last ball of the day when he had Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf caught behind down the legside to leave the tourists a wobbly 109 for four, still 345 runs in arrears after Australia declared at 454 for five.

Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson were the other wicket-takers for the home side.

Umpire Billy Doctrove originally ruled Yousuf not out, but Australia successfully challenged the decision, television replays confirming the batsman got the slightest of tickles.

Teenage prodigy Umar Akmal was 10 not out and nightwatchman Mohammad Aamer did not score from one ball faced. Hauritz had Faisal Iqbal caught sharply at slip by Michael Clarke when on 15 in his 12th over, breaking a partnership that had threatened to take the tourists to a relatively safe position on a placid pitch.

When Watson trapped Salman Butt in front after a patient 45 eight overs later, Australia were in a strong position, although winning the match will require hard work given the pitch has provided little help for the bowlers.

In 180 overs only nine wickets have fallen, at an average of 62 runs, although only 258 runs were scored on day two.

Australia's batsmen were untroubled to the halfway point of yesterday's play before captain Ricky Ponting declared, which gave his bowlers 49 overs at Pakistan.

The only concern for the home batsmen was their continued inability to reach three figures, as Mike Hussey posted the 10th score this summer between 80 and 99, when out for 82.

Hauritz appeared the man poised to break the century drought with his attacking strokeplay after lunch but, when he fell leg before to fast-medium Abdur Rauf, Ponting decided it was time to bowl, leaving Clarke unbeaten on 28.

Johnson removed Imran Farhat for nine before tea with a nice in-cutter, but Butt and Iqbal steadied things with a partnership that lasted 19 overs, although it yielded just 33 runs.

Iqbal contributed to his downfall, attempting a high-risk glide, to be caught at slip. Yousuf lofted Hauritz down the ground for six the third ball he faced.

- AAP