Pakistan v Australia

This was the last match of the Australians' long tour and in holding their own they owed everything to Simpson, who hit a century in each innings, and to fine bowling by McKenzie.

Khalid Ibadulla, the Warwickshire opening batsman, distinguished himself by scoring a splendid hundred on his Test debut, the first Pakistani to do so.

Pakistan introduced six new players to Test Cricket and retained only five of the team which toured U.K. in 1962, including Hanif Mohammad, who captained his country for the first time.

Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat on a perfect pitch. Khalid Ibadulla, specially called from England, and Abdul Kadir gave the side a great start by scoring 249 in nine minutes under five hours. They beat the previous record of 162 by Hanif and Imtiaz at Madras in 1960-61. Kadir (nine 4's) missed the distinction of scoring a century in his first Test, Khalid was out off the last ball of the day, having batted five and a half hours and hit twenty 4's. Saeed in his short stay completed 2,000 runs in Test cricket. Pakistan finished the day at 284 for three.

Next morning, McKenzie, who had little luck the previous day, started a rout by taking three wickets cheaply, and when Martin dismissed Majid, Pakistan had lost four wickets in 17 balls.

Undaunted by the situation, Intikhab and Asif batted beautifully; playing excellent strokes all round the wicket they put on 49 for the ninth wicket which enabled Pakistan to attain their highest total against Australia. McKenzie with five for 22 that morning finished with six for 69.

Australia began badly when Lawry was out hooking a short ball from Majid, who took a wicket in his second over, and Redpath did not stay long. Simpson and Burge carried the score to 151 for two at the close in three hours ten minutes' play. Simpson's gallant knock which lasted six and three-quarter hours, came to an end just before tea, when Saeed had him caught. Simpson hit thirteen 4's and batted gamely with little support. His departure signalled the end, for Saeed took two more wickets and Intikhab finished the innings with Australia 62 behind. Pakistan lost Khalid before the close on the third day.

Asif, going in as night watchman, played some beautiful shots and with Kadir put on 52. Instead of forcing the pace, Burki and Hanif defended and when play ended Pakistan had scored only 220 runs in five and a half hours.

After, batting half an hour while 31 runs were added, Pakistan declared on the final morning, leaving Australia 342 to win in ten minutes under five hours -- by no means a difficult task on a still plumb pitch. Simpson and Lawry accepted the challenge in a brisk opening stand, but Redpath had totally different ideas. He occupied thirty-seven minutes to get off the mark, and altogether batted four hours for only 40 runs. Simpson, on the other hand, hit a second hundred in three hours twenty minutes, including fifteen 4's, a great effort.