Australia steadied by pair of Waughs

Cricket

Pakistan 299; Australia 151-3

Mark Waugh abandoned his trademark cavalier approach to steer Australia to relative comfort in the third and final Test in Sydney yesterday with a patient unbeaten 54.

Waugh gained valuable support from his twin brother Steve, who finished on 26 not out, as the pair added 60 for the fourth wicket.

Pakistan's Ijaz Ahmed, 101 overnight, went on to make 137, his highest Test score, but the tourists collapsed, losing their last six wickets for just 36.

(Second day; Pakistan won toss)

PAKISTAN - First Innings

(Overnight: 231 for 4)

Ijaz Ahmed c McGrath b Warne 137

Basit Ali c Slater b McDermott 17

Rashid Latif c Healy b McDermott 1

*Wasim Akram c and b McGrath 21

Saqlain Mushtaq run out 0

Mushtaq Ahmed c McDermott b Warne 0

Waqar Younis not out 0

Extras (lb3 w2 nb6) 11

Total (113.2 overs) 299

Fall (cont): 5-263 6-269 7-297 8-299 9-299.

Bowling: McDermott 21-6-62-3; McGrath 22.2-1-79-2; Reiffel 22-4-71-0; Warne 34-20-55-4; M E Waugh 10-4-23-0; Blewett 4-2-6-0.

AUSTRALIA - First Innings

M J Slater b Wasim 1

*M A Taylor c Rashid b Saqlain 47

D C Boon c Rashid b Mushtaq 16

M E Waugh not out 54

S R Waugh not out 26

Extras (lb4 nb3) 7

Total (for 3, 57 overs) 151

Fall: 1-2 2-44 3-91.

To bat: G S Blewett, I A Healy, P R Reiffel, S K Warne, C J McDermott, G McGrath.

Bowling (to date): Wasim Akram 14-3-30-1; Waqar Younis 5-1-14-0; Mushtaq Ahmed 19-3-52-1; Saqlain Mushtaq 15-2-36-1; Aamir Sohail 4-0-15-0.

Umpires: H D Bird and S G Randall.