Pakistan 44/1, Chasing 422 Target

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 1:29 pm

MELBOURNE: Pakistan made 44/1 in their second innings in third session of the fourth day in Melbourne Test, losing the wicket of Imran Farhat 12 at 18.

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Earlier, Shane Watson made his maiden Test century as Australia set Pakistan 422 to win the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

Watson compiled an unbeaten 120 on day four as Ricky Ponting called his men in on 8 for 225 following the dismissal of Nathan Hauritz for 8, stumped by Kamran Akmal off the bowling of spinner Saeed Ajmal.

Mitchell Johnson was the other man out after lunch, caught short of his ground by Mohammad Asif for 22.

The immediate period after lunch was all about Watson’s quest for a maiden Test century, having gone to the break on 98.

And having scratched around in the 90s for what seemed an eternity, it was typical that the runs for the milestone should come in dramatic fashion.

Facing a fired-up Mohammad Aamer, who had already claimed his maiden five-wicket haul, Watson on 99 threw the bat at a fuller delivery which went straight to Abdur Rauf at backward point.

But Pakistan’s traditionally woeful fielding has been front and centre this match and it came as no surprise when Abdur grassed a sitter which allowed Watson to streak through for his single.

Watson faced 186 balls to reach triple figures, having occupied the crease for close to five hours.

He became the first Australian of the summer to reach triple figures, with 20 half-centuries having been recorded in the four Tests played including this one.

Batting partner Johnson had earlier achieved his own significant milestone, reaching 22 to become only the fifth man in Test history to record 50 wickets and 500 runs for the calendar year.

Ian Botham, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadley all did it twice, while New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori managed the feat last year.

Aamer, just 17, finished with a Test-best 5 for 79 from 24 overs.