Aust. cricket rally falters

Press, 26 September 1988, Page 28

Aust. cricket rally falters

NZPA-Reuter Faisalabad, Pakistan Australia was jolted by two late blows that ended a fightback by its third-wicket pair, Geoff Marsh and Graeme Wood, in the second cricket test against Pakistan on Saturday. The opener Marsh (51), and Wood (32) had lifted Australia to 122 for two in reply to Pakistan’s first innings of 316, the last five wickets having fallen for 72 earlier in the day. Pakistan struck back by despatching Marsh and Wood without addition to the total and Australia was 128 for four at the close of the second day, its innings in the balance and much depending on the captain, Allan Border.

Border had survived 19 nervous minutes at the crease without scoring and the nightwatchman, Tony Dodemaide, was on five, with Steve Waugh the only specialist batsman to come.

Australia, 65 for two at one stage, was battling to a solid position until its progress was checked by the left-arm fast bowler, Saleem Jaffer. He struck Wood’s pad with a swinging full toss and the umpire, Mahboob Shah, had no hesitation in giving him out lbw. The off-spinner, Tauseef Ahmed, dealt the second blow with a sharply turning delivery, putting Australia in difficulties again after its defeat by an innings and 188 runs in the acrimonious first test in Karachi. Australia had suffered an early setback when the opener, David Boon, tried to square cut a delivery from the medium-pacer, Mudassar Nazar, well outside the offstump but succeeded only in deflecting on to his stumps. Boon made 13. Dean Jones added 41 with Marsh before the leg-spinner, Abdul Qadir, trapped him lbw for 16.