Waugh hits magnificent ton as Aussie clean sweep seems inevitable

With his captaincy and place in the side for the Ashes in doubt after a poor run in the last 11 Tests, Steve Waugh silenced his detractors as he has done so many times before, by letting his bat do the talking.

His unbeaten hundred, by far his best innings of the year, led Australia to a substantial 444. As Pakistan tottered on 163 for six at stumps, an improvement on 100 for six but still adrift of follow-on target by 82 runs, Australia's second successive clean sweep looked almost inevitable.

Steve Waugh may have shown them the way, but the inexperienced Pakistani top order failed to find any inspiration. Lacking in resolve and technique against top quality bowling, there were soft dismissals aplenty and they have effectively handed the match to the Aussies on a platter. Unless something miraculous happens on the third day, the match doesn't look likely to go into the fourth.

Despite the partial recovery from 100 for six with an enterprising stand of 63 for the seventh wicket between Hasan Raza (37, off 77 balls, 7 fours) and Saqlain Mushtaq (27, off 49 balls, 4 fours, 1 six), Pakistan remained in the doldrums. Raza and Saqlain took some spectacular boundaries off the Aussie attack, the latter clouting Warne for six over mid-wicket. If they can negotiate a fresh Glenn McGrath and Warne tomorrow, Pakistan just might avoid the follow-on. But Australia have a way of seizing the initiative early on the day.

On a good batting pitch, Pakistan again made a poor start. Taufeeq Umar - having averted a fourth duck in five innings, including a pair in the second Test - was plumb in front to McGrath. Younis Khan, the most experienced of their batsmen, was out to a horrendous shot, chasing the ball outside off-stump, guiding it into Adam Gilchrist's gloves off McGrath - his 398th wicket. Imran Farhat (29, in 35 balls, 6 fours) played some superb shots before he failed to read Warne's straight one and was lbw with Pakistan on 50.

Andy Bichel trapped Misbah-ul-Haq plumb in front, and Fasial Iqbal was caught by Gilchrist. Rashid Latif lived dangerously, as Damien Martyn missed a difficult chance in the slips, but then he tamely handed Mark Waugh a catch at first slip. At 100 for six Raza, the youngest to have played a Test but only playing in his third match, and Saqlain embarked on their effort at retrieval.

Earlier it was Waugh all the way. With wickets tumbling around him, with the exception of the 55-run stand for the sixth wicket with Adam Giclchrist, Waugh held the Australian innings together. He was eventually left high and dry as four wickets fell for 55 after lunch, but he whizzed to his 28th hundred, placing him just one behind Sir Don Bradman's 29 and fourth best overall, with Sunil Gavaskar (34) and Sachin Tendulkar (30) also ahead of him.

Two remarkable deliveries, one swinging out and the next seaming in, from skipper Waqar Younis provided the much needed early breakthroughs for Pakistan, accounting for Ricky Ponting after he had made exactly 150, and Martyn first ball. Gilchrist averted the hat-trick, and there ensued another stand of 50-plus (55 in 104 deliveries).

Danish Kaneria induced a faint edge from Gilchrist (34, 53 balls, 3 fours) for Latif to take a good catch. Pakistan picked up three wickets quickly after lunch, before Waugh accelerated. He hit Sami for four through point and gully, before two wickets fell in one Kaneria over. The leggie trapped Warne leg before, and Lee was run out as Waugh attempted a quick single. Andy Bichel trying to heave Kaneria, holed out to Taufeeq Umar.

Needing 17 for his hundred with McGrath at the other end, Waugh went after Kaneria. He swept the leg-spinner for two boundaries on either side of the square-leg fielder and then smote two sixes over mid-wicket to go past the three-figure mark in great style, in 191 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes. Waqar then had Glenn McGrath caught at the wicket, Latif's third catch in addition to a big hand in Lee's run out, as the Aussie innings folded for 444.