London: Pakistan faced a record-breaking pursuit of 440 to win the first Test against Australia at Lord’s here on Thursday.
Australia were bowled out for 334 in their second innings at tea on the third day, with tail-ender Ben Hilfenhaus piling on the agony for Pakistan with a Test-best 56 not out.
The highest total ever scored in a fourth innings to win a Test is the 418 for seven made by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2002/03.
Pakistan’s equivalent record is the 315 for nine they compiled against Australia at Karachi in 1994. These were daunting targets to better for a Pakistan team dismissed for just 148 in their first innings and including two debutant top-order batsmen in Azhar Ali and Umar Ameen.
Simon Katich again proved a thorn in Pakistan’s side before he fell in sight of a century for the second time in this match.
Proving a Paine
Pakistan’s plight was then compounded by both Hilfenhaus and debutant wicketkeeper Tim Paine (47) making their highest Test scores, with the Tasmanians sharing a ninth-wicket stand of 74.
No 11 Doug Bollinger also chipped in with a Test-best 21 before he was last man out, bowled by leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to end a 10th-wicket partnership worth 52. Australia saw their lunch score of 188 for five become 188 for seven as they lost Katich and fellow left-hander Marcus North in quick succession.
Katich, having made 80 in the first innings, was on 83 when he pushed outside off-stump against seamer Umar Gul, who finished with four for 61, and edged to wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal.
But he had put Australia in a commanding position after facing 174 balls with 14 boundaries in a four-hour stay at the crease.
Two balls later, Mohammad Asif had North caught by a diving Kamran Akmal.
