Wasim Akram helps Pakistan to solid total
Pakistan veteran Wasim Akram celebrated his share of a world record in one-day international cricket tonight with a thumping finish to the visitors' innings against Australia in the deciding one-day international clash at the Gabba.
Michael Crutcher
19-Jun-2002
Pakistan veteran Wasim Akram celebrated his share of a world record in one-day international cricket tonight with a thumping finish to the visitors' innings against Australia in the deciding one-day international clash at the Gabba.
Wasim, who joined India's Mohammad Azharuddin as the most capped player with 334 one-day international appearances, smashed Glenn McGrath into the stands with two consecutive sixes as Pakistan zipped to 7-256 from its 50 overs.
Australia's batsmen face a testing run chase under lights on a chilly Brisbane night after Wasim (49 not out from 32 balls) and Yousuf Youhana (61 not out from 84) raced through an unbeaten 88-run partnership from 65 balls.
It was an entertaining finish to an eventful innings, which included a lightning hospital visit for Darren Lehmann after the Australian veteran was struck on the left cheek trying to field a delivery from his own bowling.
Lehmann was sporting a bloodshot left eye when he left the field but he returned to the ground late in Pakistan's innings.
Lehmann's figures of 1-7 from 2.3 overs were the best in a messy Australian bowling line-up, which included all-rounder Shane Watson returning 0-46 from five overs.
McGrath finished with 0-48 from 10 overs after Wasim hit his last two deliveries over the fence while Andrew Bichel conceded 26 runs from his opening three overs before finishing with 1-47 from eight.
Shane Warne supplied a consistent 2-42 from 10 and he was also involved in a run-out as Pakistan's batsmen wobbled through the middle overs.
Opener Imran Nazir provided an excellent foundation with 66 from 72 balls but the losses of Younis Khan (two), Rashid Latif (two) and Azhar Mahmood (six) left Pakistan in trouble at 7-168 in the 40th over.
But Wasim and Youhana ensured Australia's batsmen were in for a long night with an excellent partnership which almost came unstuck when Wasim was 17.
He skied a catch to Ricky Ponting at mid-off but umpire Simon Taufel, at square leg, called a no-ball, ruling the full toss from Watson had passed above Wasim's waist height.
It wasn't the first time Watson despaired during his expensive spell after watching 12th man Brett Lee spill a tough running catch from opener Saeed Anwar (26 from 51 balls).
Saeed was 24 when he skied the catch, completing a disappointing day for Lee, who was left out when Australian selectors chose their best team.
Batsman Jimmy Maher was also left out from the 13-man squad, enabling Matthew Hayden to resume his place after the Queenslander missed Australia's two-wicket loss in Melbourne last Saturday.