Melbourne, December 29: Opener Shane Watson cracked his maiden Test century to put Australia in firm command of the first Test on day four in the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Pakistan however put up a fighting performance in their second innings and ended the day on 170-3, needing another252 for victory going into the final day. Captain Mohammad Yousuf (45 not out) and Umar Akmal (27 not out) were at the crease.
Shane Watson spend 67 minutes in the nervous 90’s on Tuesday morning and went into lunch at 98 and finally reached his maiden Test ton after Abdur Rauf dropped a sitter of Mohammad Aamer’s delivery which incidentally is the first century by an Australian this summer.
Australia had 20 half-centuries this summer without anyone getting triple figures.
Watson ended up unbeaten on 120, having taken his average opening the innings this summer to better than 75. Ricky Ponting declared the Australian innings after the dismissal of Hauritz for 8,Australia compiling 8 for 225 to set Pakistan 422 for victory.
Pakistan lost Imran Farhat (12), Salman Butt (33) and Faisal Iqbal (48) before the close.
–Agencies