BBC SPORT | Cricket | Pakistan stage fightback

First Test, Colombo, day two (close): Pakistan 210-5 v Australia 467

Pakistan took the attack to Australia after losing early wickets in their reply to a first innings 467 on the second day of the opening Test in Colombo.

Faisal Iqbal, playing in just his sixth Test, lifted Pakistan from early trouble at 75 for four to 210 for five at stumps, taking just 80 deliveries in reaching 78 not out.

He carried on from new vice-captain Younis Khan, who hit a brisk 58 before being caught off Brett Lee.

Adam Gilchrist
Gilchrist hit an unbeaten 66
And an unbroken sixth wicket partnership worth 94 with Rashid latif, whose 30 not out included four boundaries, had Pakistan well on course to a follow-on target of 268.

For the entire morning session the dominant batsmen had been Australian, Damien Martyn and Adam Gilchrist adding 123 to an overnight total of 330 for five.

The pair collected 16 boundaries between them in a stand of 128 although Gilchrist was reprieved on three when a chance went begging in a mix-up between Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq.

But five wickets fell in the space of four overs after lunch.

Spinner Saqlain Mushtaq began the collapse by dismissing Martyn for 67 and paceman Shoaib Akhtar then picked up three for two in a three-over burst.

Shane Warne was caught by Faisal and Lee and Gillespie feel to successive deliveries in Shoaib's next over.

McGrath's appeal is upheld
McGrath pinned Imran in front of the stumps
Saqlain ended the innings by removing Glenn McGrath to finish with figures of four for 136.

But wickets continued to tumble in the opening overs of the Pakistan reply.

McGrath trapped Imran Nazir lbw with his fifth delivery and new ball partner Gillespie snapped up the wicket of Taufeeq Umer, thanks to a catch by Ricky Ponting.

Shane Warne turned the screw by having Abdur Razzaq caught behind for 11 shortly before the tea interval.

But Warne, in particular was put to the sword in the evening, Faisal smashing four of his 15 boundaries off a single over from the leg-spinner in passing his third Test half-century.

Warne did enjoy the single success of the session, though, having Misbah-ul Haq caught at slip for 17.

But his 15 overs in the day were launched for a total of 56 runs.

Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (capt), Taufiq Umar, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammmad Sami.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIs), Srinivas Venkataraghvan (Ind) Match referee: Clive Lloyd (WIs).


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