AUSTRALIA v. PAKISTAN

Pakistan's lack of Test experience cost them victory after they had battled their way into a most favourable position. On a wicket heavily sedated in favour of batsmen, Pakistan needed 293 runs in five and a half hours only to collapse for 200 runs in their second innings. The run outs of Zaheer Abbas, Mushtaq Mohammad and Sarfraz Nawaz on the last day were an indication of the nervous tension the Pakistanis suffered. For a long while the game seemed destined for a draw as first Australia and then Pakistan punished the bowling.

Redpath, again opening for the injured Stackpole, made a careful 135 which assured him of his position in the team for the West Indies and G. S. Chappell a subdued 116 not out, but again Marsh struck out lustily for 74. Australia used two pace bowlers new to Test cricket, Walker, the tall Melbourne medium-paced swing bowler, and Thomson, the vigorous Sydney fast bowler, the latter appearing after only five first-class games, for Massie and Edwards.

The left-handed Sadiq Mohammad continued to grow in stature, hitting his first Test century on the ground where his brother Hanif made 104 and 93 in the drawn Test eight years previously. Zaheer Abbas made an outstanding half-century, hooking Lillee with imperiousness before being run out and the gifted Majid Khan hit the first century of his wayward Test career without Zaheer's gloss. Mushtaq Mohammad and Intikhab Alam meted out punishment until Lillee delivered bouncers at the tail-enders, compelling Intikhab to close the innings 133 runs ahead.

Centuries by Sheahan, apparently entrenched as the opener Australia had sought for several seasons, and Benaud, his first in only his second Test, carried Australia's innings past 400 again and G. S. Chappell displayed rare grace for his 62. Benaud, brother of former Test captain R. Benaud, made his 142 the day after the Australian selectors had omitted him from the third Test, and Sheahan his 127 after his announcement with Mallett he would not be available to tour the West Indies. Majid and Intikhab again batted well but the run outs and lack of application by some of the Pakistani batsmen gave Australia victory with an hour to spare.