Cricket: Australia win second test and series

Australia won their fifth series of 2004 by beating Pakistan by nine wickets on the fourth day of the second test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

Chasing 126 to win, Justin Langer's dismissal for five before lunch made for some nerves at the start of the runchase, but captain Ricky Ponting scored 62 not out and Matthew Hayden 56 not out to ease Australia to 127 for one with an unbeaten 116-run stand.

Ponting brought up the winning runs with a straight six off legspinner Danish Kaneria.

Hayden was dropped on 11 and Ponting survived a close leg before wicket shout from Kaneria's bowling on 22, but there were not too many concerns as they wrapped up the match before tea.

Hayden was given a life when he got a leading edge from Shoaib Akhtar, only for Yasir Hameed to drop a sharp, low chance at point.

From there Hayden posted his first decent knock of the series after scores of four, 10 and nine.

Australia's win was their 300th in test cricket, their 10th from 14 matches in 2004 and was a history-making victory as the side became the first to win five series in a calendar year.

This series win followed victories over Sri Lanka (away and home), India (away) and New Zealand (home), while the June series against Zimbabwe was scrapped.

Australia dismissed Pakistan for 163 in their second innings, with all the Australian bowlers among the wickets.

Glenn McGrath took four 35, Shane Warne claimed three for 66 although he was hit for five sixes today, Jason Gillespie took two for 15 and Michael Kasprowicz finished with one for 42.

Resuming today at 85 for five, Pakistan showed great fight with the bat as allrounders Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq defied the Australian quartet for a stand of 39 despite their fitness worries.

Malik split the webbing on his right hand in the field on Monday and retired hurt today when on 15, but returned to top score for his side with 41.

Razzaq spent yesterday in hospital because of dizziness and low blood pressure and batted stubbornly for 19.

Langer took his 2004 test aggregate to 1481 runs, the equal third-highest year on record, but was out in the second over of the innings when he edged a good delivery from Mohammad Sami.

Australian batsman Damien Martyn was named man-of-the-match for his 142 in the first innings.

The third test starts in Sydney on Sunday.


Pakistan


First innings 341


Australia


First innings 379


Pakistan


Second innings (overnight 85-5)


S Butt c Kasprowicz b McGrath 0


I Farhat c Martyn b Gillespie 5


Y Hameed c Gilchrist b McGrath 23


Y Khan c Hayden b Kasprowicz 23


Y Youhana c Ponting b Warne 12


S Malik c Gillespie b Warne 41


M Sami lbw b Gillespie 11


A Razzaq c Gilchrist b McGrath 19


K Akmal lbw b Warne 0


S Akhtar b McGrath 14


D Kaneria not out 9


Extras (4b, 1lb, 1nb) 6


Total (64.2 overs) 163


Fall: 0, 13, 35, 60, 68, 98, 101, 140, 140, 163.


Bowling: G McGrath 11.2-1-35-4, J Gillespie 12-7-15-2, M Kasprowicz 16-3-42-1 (1nb), S Warne 25-7-66-3.


Australia


Second innings


J Langer c Kamran b Sami 5


M Hayden not out 56


R Ponting not out 62


Extras (2lb, 2nb) 4


Total (for 1 wkt, 27.5 overs) 127


Fall: 11.


Bowling: S Akhtar 7-0-35-0, M Sami 5-0-22-1 (2nb), D Kaneria 10.5-1-52-0, I Farhat 5-2-16-0.


Result: Australia won by nine wickets.


Australia lead three-match series 2-0.


- AAP