Watson’’s five puts Aussie on top

LORD”S: A characteristic Pakistani batting collapse, highlighted by a bizarre Twenty20-style cameo from captain Shahid Afridi, has put Australia firmly in control of the teams” series-opening Test at Lord’’s – despite a batting wobble of its own late on day two. Afridi was batting in his first Test match for four years but could just as well have kept the coloured clothes on. Arriving at the crease with his team reeling at 5-83 he responded with a brutal 15-minute innings of 31 that epitomised why he is so revered in limited-overs cricket but simultaneously showed why he was a bizarre choice as Pakistan’’s new Test captain. Opener Salman Butt’’s impressive 63 was the only valiant batting performance as Pakistan was bowled out for 148 in just the 41st over. Australian all-rounder Shane Watson’’s maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket meant Australia’’s seemingly disappointing first innings of 253 was actually enough to give it a 105-run lead. By the end of day two that lead had been extended to 205 runs as Australia went to stumps at 4-100 in its second innings, with Simon Katich on 49 and nightwatchman Mitchell Johnson on two. The first negative for Australian supporters for the day was the extension of captain Ricky Ponting’’s barren spell at Lord’’s as he was dismissed LBW. The replay indicated the delivery from Mohammad Asif would have passed leg-stump, however by not playing a shot Ponting made it much easier for umpire Rudi Koertzen, officiating in his second-last Test, to give him out. It was followed soon after with Umar Gul’’s wickets, in successive deliveries, of Michael Clarke for 12 and Mike Hussey for a duck. With 21 minutes remaining the Australians decided to shield No.6 batsman Marcus North by sending Mitchell Johnson in. Australia started day two by another 31 runs to its first-innings total thanks an unbeaten 56 from Mike Hussey and some solid resistance from Doug Bollinger.

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Watson’’s five puts Aussie on top