Pakistan v Australia

At Sharjah, October 11, 12, 2002. Australia won by an innings and 198 runs. Toss: Pakistan.

Pakistan arrived in Sharjah comfortable with the familiar conditions and buoyed by their competitive performance in Colombo. But their mood would quickly darken as they slumped to a display that, even allowing for their reputation for spasmodic performances, could only be described as a shocker. In 125 years, Test cricket had produced only 16 two-day defeats; here, on a slow, flat pitch and against an Australian attack weakened by the absence of the injured Gillespie, Pakistan subsided to the 17th.

After Waqar Younis was granted his wish to bat first on one of world cricket's most benign strips, the Pakistanis were rolled over for their lowest-ever score, a pathetic 59, three below their previous worst at Perth in 1981-82. They had lasted less than 32 overs. The openers Imran Nazir and Taufeeq Umar repeated the pair of ducks they managed in the first innings in Colombo, and only Abdul Razzaq, who endured almost two hours for 21, reached double figures. Warne caused the damage again, taking four for 11 and bewitching the batsmen with his new "slider". Pushing forward, they found themselves trapped lbw by deliveries that were doing precisely nothing.

Two balls after tea on the first day, the Australians were already in front. With the temperature pushing 50°C in the middle, Hayden likened it to batting in an oven and wondered whether hell was any hotter. But his sheer hunger for runs came to the fore. While Ponting looked ready to expire by the time he was out for 44, Hayden ground his way relentlessly to 119, showing his opponents the determination that the conditions demanded. Dropped twice, he never truly dominated - though he reached three figures with a six off Danish Kaneria - but the seven-hour vigil was exactly what Australia needed. Afterwards, Steve Waugh would label Hayden the best batsman in the world.

Following their mauling in Colombo, the Australians had spent a lot of time devising strategies to counter Shoaib Akhtar's speed and reverse swing. In fact Shoaib could not cope with the heat and proved ineffectual, managing only 14 overs. Waqar Younis bowled just eight, and the batsmen pummelled Kaneria, the young leg-spinner who had come into the team in place of the seamer Mohammad Sami. It meant that Pakistan leaned heavily on Saqlain Mushtaq, who toiled for 34 overs and was rewarded with four for 83, including the Waughs with consecutive balls. Pressure on the twins remained as intense as the heat. The Australians had toasted Steve on the eve of the match to celebrate his 150th Test; a first-ball duck scarcely crowned the event, and meant Waugh beat Mike Atherton's record for an established batsman of 20 Test ducks.

Australia were aiming for 500; although they managed only 310, it proved more than enough. After Nazir simply turned his back on Taufeeq as he charged through for a run in Pakistan's first over, and Razzaq's wrist was broken by Lee in the sixth, their resolve fractured too. Warne once again imposed his authority, taking four for 13, and the quick bowlers mopped up. Pakistan had survived less than 25 overs, and were routed for 53. Their record low had lasted only one day.

Man of the Match: M. L. Hayden.

Close of play: First day, Australia 191-4 (Hayden 74, Martyn 19).