Third Test, Hobart, day two close: Australia 519-8 dec v Pakistan 94-4 Match scorecard
 Australia have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series |
Pakistan's hopes of salvaging the final Test against Australia looked bleak as they ended day two on 94-4, trailing by 425 runs in the first innings. Ricky Ponting (209) and Michael Clarke (166) shared 352, the second-highest fourth-wicket partnership in Australian Test history as they declared on 519-8. Pakistan, who trail 2-0 in the series, self-destructed with two run-outs. Salman Butt (34 not out) was involved in the dismissals of both captain Mohammad Yousuf (7) and Umar Akmal (8). Yousuf's dismissal came after he played a superb off-drive off Doug Bollinger and, having run two, called for a legitimate third run. However, Butt refused to run at the non-striker's end and his skipper was left stranded. A few overs later, Butt again refused to run, leaving teenager Umar heading back to the pavilion.  | 606: DEBATE |
The tourists, who need another 226 runs to avoid the follow-on, were already in trouble after Peter Siddle had claimed the wickets of Imran Farhat (38) and Manzoor (0). Pakistan captain Yousuf later branded team-mate Butt as "selfish". "We are not playing for self, we are playing for country," said Yousuf. "I am 35 years old, he is 25 years old, why not take three runs?" When asked his thoughts at that moment of his dismissal, the forthright Yousuf replied: "I just stopped there and didn't say anything but I was very sad because of him. "He is just 25 years old and he can't run and that is why I was just standing there. "We will try to lift him and play out the whole day tomorrow. We are not out of the match still and maybe both players can bat until the evening. "It will be difficult for us to save the game now but it's a very flat wicket. "And if we play for country and try to survive sessions and not go for runs then maybe we can save the game." Earlier, Australia had completely dominated the Pakistan bowlers before Clarke was dismissed by leg spinner Danish Kaneria after lunch. Only the legendary Don Bradman and Bill Ponsford have compiled a bigger partnership for the fourth wicket, and they still hold the record of 388, set against England at Leeds in 1934. Ponting went on to make 209, his third-highest Test score, and his best on his home ground, but his innings was ended by Mohammad Aamer, who had dropped him on day one when he had yet to score. Incredibly, Pakistan missed another opportunity to dismiss Ponting, with Imran Farhat dropping the captain at cover when he was on 167. Australia's scoreboard continued to tick over even without Ponting and Clarke, with Brad Haddin - who was dropped by Sarfraz Ahmed on 19 - hitting 41 runs off 34 balls. A delighted Ponting said of his partnership with Clarke: "We haven't actually shared many big partnerships together in Test cricket so to get that done, when we were under a bit of pressure early in the innings, was nice. "I knew he (Clarke) made that 150 on debut so, when he was getting close to that, I was urging him along to make sure he went past that total. "At different times we pushed each other along and at different times told each other to pull the reins back in a little bit as well. "That's a big part of it. Michael and I have played a lot of cricket together now and know each other's games really well."
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