Pakistan rip through shell-shocked Australia

Getty Images

THAT'S OUT: Michael Clarke is bowled by Umar Gul during day one of the second test between Pakistan and Australia at Headingley, Leeds.

Relevant offers

Cricket

Black Caps overcome spirited Zimbabwe in T20 Easy does it for Jesse Ryder's Black Caps return Is one-day cricket suffering a mid-life crisis? Ex Zimbabwean wears 'silver fern' with pride Clarke stars as Australia hold on vs Sri Lanka Get runs, stop theirs to win in 50-over game Teen Tom Latham boosts his bank balance Training mishap puts key bowler in doubt Injury clouds over Guptill, Oram only negative NZ batsmen dine out again but places open

Pakistan turned the form book on its head with an inspired bowling performance to skittle Australia for just 88 on the first day of the second test.

The Australians, seeking their eighth test win a row, folded meekly after winning the toss and Pakistan reached 148 or three at the close to set up the prospect of a first victory over their opponents for 15 years.

Australia, who won the first test by 150 runs, crashed to their lowest total since 1984 when they made 76 against West Indies.

Pakistan pace bowlers Mohammad Aamer (three for 20), Mohammad Asif (three for 30) and Umar Gul (two for 16) exploited the favourable conditions with clever swing and seam bowling. Tim Paine top-scored for Australia with 17.

The Pakistanis lost new captain Salman Butt (45), Imran Farhat (43) and Azhar Ali (30) but Umar Amin and Umar Akmal extended their lead to 60 runs, Akmal slogging leg-spinner Steven Smith for the day's first six as the light dimmed.

Pakistan passed the Australia total with one wicket down when Ali edged Mitchell Johnson to the third man boundary.

Australia were annoyed by another Ali edge for four through gully, this time off Ben Hilfenhaus, who appeared to give a verbal volley to the young batsman with captain Ricky Ponting adding a few words of his own.

By then the dark clouds had been replaced by blue sky and sunshine as fans bared their chests and used T-shirts as makeshift sunhats.

For most of the day, there was only a smattering of fans in the Headingley stadium despite enthusiastic marketing to a strong local Pakistani community.

STILL SWUNG

The ball still swung even in the sunshine as left-hander Butt was undone by a full-length Hilfenhaus delivery that uprooted his leg stump.

Farhat also succumbed to the wobbling ball when Shane Watson shaped one into him for a simple lbw decision and Ali was caught one-handed by wicketkeeper Paine after batting for 79 minutes.

Earlier, left-armer Aamer claimed wickets with the first two balls after lunch to help finish off Australia's innings.

Aamer, aged 18, bowled Smith with a ball that swung into him sharply and left-hander Johnson was bowled by a ball swinging prodigiously away.

Before lunch, Australia regularly lost wickets as Asif swung the ball both ways and moved it off the seam, with Watson and Ponting undone by his in-swing.

Gul dismissed Michael Clarke with a ball that swung in and cut back off the seam.

Although the series is being played at neutral venues in England, it is a home one for Pakistan who cannot play in their homeland because of the precarious security situation.

- Reuters