Cricket: Pakistan collapse after Martyn’s century

Australia's Damien Martyn scored 142, his sixth test century of 2004, before Pakistan suffered a spectacular top-order batting collapse on the third day of the second cricket test in Melbourne today.


Pakistan reached 85 for five in their second innings at the close of play to lead by 47 runs.


The not out batsmen were Mohammad Sami on eight and Shoaib Malik on 11.


Martyn's patient innings of more than six hours lifted Australia's total from 171 for five to 379 all out at tea in reply to Pakistan's 341, which included 111 from acting captain Yousuf Youhana.


Martyn put on 59 for the sixth wicket with Adam Gilchrist, who made 48, and 93 for the eighth wicket with Jason Gillespie, 50 not out.


Pakistan paceman Shoaib Akhtar took five for 109 to claim his second five-wicket haul of the series and legspinner Danish Kaneria was also a constant threat, taking five for 125 from 39.3 overs.


With Australia resuming on their overnight score of 203 for five, Pakistan had been aiming to snatch a big first innings lead.


The touring side's depleted bowling attack removed Shane Warne for 10 and Gilchrist in the first session.


Martyn then combined brilliantly with the long-haired fast bowler Gillespie, who hit four fours and one six in 2-1/2 hours to score his second career test half-century.


Martyn, 33, is the second leading scorer in test cricket this year with 1353 runs, behind teammate Justin Langer's 1476. South Africa's Jacques Kallis is third on 1278.


Martyn took almost five hours and 189 balls to reach his 11th test century, pushing a ball from Sami to mid wicket and jogging through for a single with both arms raised.


The right-hander, who made 100 not out in Australia's 491-run win in the first test in Perth, was eventually trapped leg before wicket by Kaneria after hitting 12 fours, leaving the hosts on 347 for eight.


Akhtar then claimed his fifth wicket when he had Michael Kasprowicz caught in the gully for four and Glenn McGrath fell soon after to Kaneria for one.


Buoyed by their first innings advantage of 38, Australia's new-ball attack tore through Pakistan's top order.


McGrath removed Salman Butt for a duck in the opening over and Yasir Hameed for 23 after Imran Farhat had been caught at deep square leg off Jason Gillespie for five.


Legspinner Warne had Youhana caught at silly point for 12 at 60 for four and Younis Khan fell eight runs later for 23 to the bowling of Kasprowicz after a bizarre attempt at a pull shot.


Pakistan medium pacer Abdul Razzaq was taken to a Melbourne hospital complaining of breathing difficulties today and did not take the field.


Offspinner Malik did not bowl after a report from the University of Western Australia recommended the allrounder undergo remedial work on his bowling action. Malik batted at No 6 despite a hand injury.


Both teams observed a minute's silence before the start of play today for the victims of the tsunami waves which killed more than 24,000 people across Asia.


Pakistan's regular skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq is not playing in the second test because of a back injury.


Pakistan


First innings 341


Australia


First innings (overnight 203-5)


J Langer c Farhat b Kaneria 50


M Hayden c Malik b Akhtar 9


R Ponting c Malik b Akhtar 7


D Martyn lbw b Kaneria 142


D Lehmann c Yasir b Akhtar 11


M Clarke c Akhtar b Kaneria 20


A Gilchrist c Sami b Kaneria 48


S Warne c and b Akhtar 10


J Gillespie not out 50


M Kasprowicz c sub b Akhtar 4


G McGrath lbw b Kaneria 1


Extras (1b, 2lb, 5w, 19nb) 27


Total (99.3 overs) 379


Fall: 13, 32, 122, 135, 171, 230, 254, 347, 368, 379.


Bowling: S Akhtar 27-4-109-5 (10nb, 2w), M Sami 23-2-102-0 (7nb, 1w), A Razzaq 7-0-27-0 (2nb), D Kaneria 39.3-5-125-5 (2w), I Farhat 3-0-13-0.


Pakistan


Second innings


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 not out 11


M Sami not out 8


Extras (2b, 1lb) 3


Total (for 5 wkts, 34 overs) 85


Fall: 0, 13, 35, 60, 68.


Bowling: G McGrath 9-1-25-2, J Gillespie 5-2-10-1, M Kasprowicz 10-2-30-1, S Warne 10-4-17-1.


- REUTERS