Australia build lead against Pakistan

Australia's bid for a record-equalling 12th successive Test cricket victory against Pakistan is at mercy of Hobart's notoriously fickle weather as well as a flat Bellerive pitch after skipper Ricky Ponting surprisingly elected not to enforce the follow-on on day three.
After part-time spinner Simon Katich grabbed three quick wickets - his first Test scalps for nearly a year - to enable Australia to steamroll Pakistan middle order following a courageous century from day two bad boy Salman Butt, Australia led on first innings by 218 runs after bowling visitors out for 301.
But despite forecast of rain for days four & five and fact Australia will need maximum time to take another ten wickets on a pitch that has coughed up just 19 wickets in three days, Ponting chose to bat again even though he said at stumps on day two he would enforce follow-on if given the opportunity. Instead Australia ended day three at 59 for one - with Shane Watson man out for one - an overall lead of 277 with two days remaining.
If Pakistan are to emerge from this game with a draw they will have opener Salman Butt to thank as well as a stubborn last wicket stand of 53 between fast bowlers Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif, which kept Aussie bowlers out on the field until just after tea and no doubt had an influence in Ponting's decision not to bowl again. Katich's rare visit to bowling crease only came about as Ponting.
sought to get through last few overs before second new ball was due at 80-over mark. But Katich, who bowls rarest type of deliveries in Test cricket - left arm leg-spin or 'chinaman' as it is more commonly referred to, bamboozled Pakistanis immediately and showed once again that he is an underrated and under-used bowler for his country.
Pakistani batsmen, who were both well set, were immediately thrown out of their comfort zone as Katich - who before today had taken just 18 Test wickets in his 48 Test career - struck in only his second over. It was prized scalp of Butt, who prodded a spinning delivery to Michael Clarke at first slip to fall for 102.
So well did Katich bowl - taking three for 34 off ten overs - that Ponting eventually delayed taking new ball for 16 overs as he went with spin at both ends as Australia's number one spinner Nathan Hauritz also chipped in with two wickets.
The first was key wicket of Malik for 58, who also fell to a slog shot which went straight to Doug Bollinger at mid-on and second of Danish Kaneria, who also put precious little value on his wicket as he simply spooned off-spinner straight to Ponting at mid-wicket.
SCOREBOARD
Australia 1st innings 519 (8 wickets declared, RT Ponting 209):

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Pakistan 1st innings:

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Imran Farhat c Haddin b Siddle             38

Salman Butt c Clarke b Katich             102

Khurram Manzoor c Ponting b Siddle          0

M Yousuf run out (Johnson/Haddin)           7

Umar Akmal run out (Hussey/Haddin)          8

Shoaib Malik c Bollinger b Hauritz         58

Sarfraz Ahmed c Clarke b Katich             1

Mohammad Aamer c Watson b Katich            4

Umar Gul not out                           38

Danish Kaneria c Ponting b Hauritz          8

Mohammad Asif c Hussey b Hauritz           29

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Extras: (b 2, lb 2, w 2, nb 2)              8

Total: (all out; 105.4 overs; 405 mins)   301

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Fall of wickets:1-63,, 2-63, 3-74, 4-84, 5-213, 6-215, 7-219, 8-227, 9-248, 10-301
Bowling: DE Bollinger 15-6-35-0; PM Siddle 20-8-39-2, MG Johnson 20-2-76-0-3; NM Hauritz 33.4-9-96-3; SR Watson 7-2-17-0; SM Katich 10-3-34-3

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Australia 2nd innings:

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SR Watson c M Yousuf b M Aamer              1

SM Katich not out                          33

RT Ponting not out                         25

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Total: (1 wicket; 18 overs)                59

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