Cricket: Akhtar fires up batsmen

MELBOURNE - Pakistan firebrand Shoaib Akhtar got under the collars of Australia's batsmen as the tourists gave the home side the fight cricket was craving on the second day of the second test here yesterday.

Showers made for a frustrating and, at times slow, day but sparks flew when the clouds cleared as Akhtar had a verbal dust-up with Justin Langer, made it three from three against Matthew Hayden and made sure Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann stayed planted in their lean patches.

Australia finished the day at 203 for five at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 138 runs behind Pakistan's first innings 341, with Damien Martyn on 67 not out as he continued his golden year and Adam Gilchrist unbeaten on 26.

Eighteen overs were lost to rain and bad light.

Akhtar's figures of three for 56, including the wickets of Hayden for nine and Ponting for seven in his first spell, ensured Pakistan were right in the match after Sunday's impressive start with the bat.

In his second spell Akhtar and Langer traded taunts during one heated over, in which the bowler spat in his opponent's direction.

Akhtar also hit Langer in the hand with one delivery and, after another, Langer stuck his right arm out to indicate Akhtar had overstepped the mark before umpire Rudi Koertzen confirmed a no ball.

Koertzen and stand-in Pakistan captain Yousuf Youhana had words with Akhtar as tempers threatened to spill over, but a shower cooled things down and sent the players from the field to an early tea break.

Langer at least avoided getting out to Akhtar but was furious after reaching 50 and then trying to sweep legspinner Danish Kaneria only for the ball to balloon to Imran Farhat at short fine leg.

Danish, with figures for two for 70, also had Michael Clarke caught in the deep for 20.

Akhtar has a history of on-field verbal stoushes with Hayden and was docked 40 per cent of his match fee for giving him a first-innings sendoff in the first test in Perth, which Australia won easily.

Pakistan made a treacle-slow start to the day, adding 23 runs in 17.3 overs after resuming on 318 for six.

The end of the innings came quickly though, as Shane Warne sparked a collapse of three for none in 14 balls.

- AAP