Australia v Pakistan

At Sydney, January 14, 15, 16, 18. Pakistan won by eight wickets. They omitted Asif Masood to restore Sarfraz Nawaz to their attack and chose Haroon Rashid for his first Test, dropping Salim Altaf, who had failed to take a wicket in the two previous Tests. Australia made no change.

Chappell batted after winning the toss and any thoughts that Australia would win within three days as had been predicted were soon dispelled as Imran and Sarfraz made superb use of the humidity, seaming the ball about on the mottled wicket.

Chappell's decision to bat was one the mysteries of the series and he must have had reservations within the first over as Turner was caught at the wicket off Sarfraz.

Australia were four for 38 before Chappell and Cosier became associated in a fifth wicket partnership of 62, after which there was another fall of wickets, triggered by Imran, bowling with admirable speed and persistence. Lillee and Walker defied Pakistan grimly for a tenth wicket stand of 52.

Pakistan batted brightly at first but at four for 111, Haroon and Asif Iqbal settled down to develop the innings and thorough splendid application and purpose they added 94 runs. Haroon looked a batsman of ideal temperament. Asif and Javed gave Pakistan a substantial lead through their sixth wicket stand of 115, but Australia rallied, taking the last five wickets for 40, Gilmour ending Asif's invaluable innings of over four hours.

Trailing by 149 runs on the first innings, the Australian batsmen displayed poor application again -- a significant pointer to their later failures in England -- and Imran's pace and aggression clearly unsettled them, aided as he was by the whole-hearted Sarfraz, who dismissed Turner, Chappell and Cosier cheaply.

On this third day both Lillee and Imran were warned by umpires Brooks and Ledwidge for bowling bouncers at unrecognised batsmen and there was much bitterness, Marsh gesturing at Imran with his bat after a series of bouncers.

By stumps on the third day, in which 14 wickets had fallen for 249 runs in a fascinating six hours, Australia had made 180 for nine, Lillee, with 27 not out having delayed Pakistan's win.

Fittingly, after the rest day, it was the magnificent Imran who took Lillee's wicket to finish the innings with six for 63 and twelve wickets for the Test. Pakistan needed only 32 runs and though Lillee sent back Sadiq and Zaheer, he could not prevent Pakistan's first and richly deserved Test triumph in Australia.