Pakistan slump again after Steve's century

Australian captain Steve Waugh roared back to form with a spectacular century as the world champions left Pakistan facing defeat in the final Test in Sharjah today.

Waugh hit an unbeaten 103, his 28th Test century and the first after 16 barren innings, as Australia amassed 444 and reduced Pakistan to 163 for six by stumps on the second day.

Pakistan, facing a 3-0 rout in the series, still need 82 runs to avert the follow-on with four wickets in hand.

Their hopes rest on the two batsmen at the crease, Hasan Raza and Saqlain Mushtaq, who have so far put on 63 for the seventh wicket. Raza, playing his third Test, was unbeaten at stumps on 37. Saqlain was on 27.

Leg-spinner Shane Warne, who claimed 19 wickets in the first two Tests, once again destroyed Pakistan with 3 for 57. Fast bowler Glenn McGrath picked up two for 29, taking his overall tally to 398 wickets and almost certain to touch the 400-mark before the match is over.

Waugh, under pressure to retain the captaincy for the upcoming Ashes series against old foe England, struck timely form to hit 13 boundaries and two sixes.

Stranded on 82 when last man McGrath joined him, the 37- year-old smashed leg-spinner Danish Kaneria for 20 runs in one over to race to his century.

After sweeping two boundaries, Waugh smote two sixes off successive deliveries over long-on and then raised his bat in delight amidst loud cheers from team-mates in the dressing room.

Waugh overtook former team-mate Allan Border to move to fourth place in the list of leading centurions behind Indians Sunil Gavaskar (34) and Sachin Tendulkar (30) and Australian legend Don Bradman (29).

The aggressive onslaught paid off as McGrath, who made three in a last-wicket stand of 26 with Waugh, was dismissed soon after by Pakistani captain Waqar Younis.

Pakistan, who were shot out for record lows of 59 and 53 in the second Test, once again faltered against the spot-on Australian attack.

McGrath removed opener Taufiq Umar and Younis Khan on either side of tea to give his team a perfect start. Warne then trapped Imran Farhat leg-before and had Faisal Iqbal caught behind as Pakistan's top order slumped to 76-5.

Australia, who began the day at 298-3, slipped to 308-5 before fighting back through their captain to go past the 400-run mark.

Waqar, who claimed the second new ball soon after the start, removed Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn off successive deliveries.

Ponting added just eight to his overnight score of 142 when he was clean bowled by a superb delivery that cut back after pitching.

Next ball, Martyn was wrapped on the pads and was declared leg-before by umpire S Venkataraghvan.

Ponting batted for more than six hours under the hot sun to compile 150 that included 14 boundaries and a six.

Adam Gilchrist, who denied Waqar a hat-trick, hammered 34 in a sixth-wicket stand of 55 with Waugh before he was caught behind trying to cut Kaneria.

Mail Cricket Editor