Cricket: Saeed in groove

PAKISTAN, set a target of 314, were 155 for three at the close of play on the fourth day of the First Test against Australia in Karachi yesterday.

Needing 159 more runs for victory when play resumes today, Pakistan will look to the opener Saeed Anwar, who made 67 - his second half-century of the game - and Inzamam-ul-Haq and Basit Ali, who were fared poorly in the first innings, to see them home.

Pakistan, who have not lost a Test at Karachi for four decades, were off to a brisk opening stand of 45 with Aamir Sohail in attacking mood. But a careless decision saw him run out for 34 by Michael Bevan. Zahid Fazal followed him back to the pavilion 19 runs later after being caught by David Boon off the leg-spinner Shane Warne for only three runs.

As in the first innings, the left-handed Saeed proved sound in attack and compact in defence on a placid pitch, driving superbly on both sides. He hit seven fours and a six in his 249-minute, 153-ball stay.

The captain Salim Malik and Saeed staged a third-wicket stand of 84 to lift the home team's morale, but Malik was caught in the slips by Mark Taylor after tea off a bouncer from Jo Angel. His 43 was studded with seven fours.

Earlier, Australia were dismissed for 232 in their second innings, with Boon hitting a pugnacious, unbeaten 114. Boon, who has performed badly against Pakistan in 10 previous Tests, said: 'I am delighted to score my first ton against Pakistan. Scoring a hundred against an attack comprising Wasim, Waqar and Mushtaq is always a great satisfaction.'

Wasim Akram took five for 63 and his pace partner Waqar Younis, although not performing at his best, picked up four for 69. 'We can win provided our later-order batting comes up to expectations - it's not a difficult target,' Malik said. His Australian counterpart, Taylor, was unwilling to predict the outcome, but said he was happy that Malik's wicket had fallen.

(Australia won toss)

AUSTRALIA - First innings 337 (M G Bevan 82, S R Waugh 73).

PAKISTAN - First innings 256 (Saeed Anwar 85).

AUSTRALIA - Second innings

(Overnight: 181 for 5)

D C Boon not out. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144 I A Healy c Rashid Latif b Waqar Younis. . . . . . . . . .9 S K Warne lbw b Waqar Younis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 J Angel c Rashid Latif b Wasim Akram. . . . . . . . . . . 8 T B A May b Wasim Akram. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 G McGarth b Waqar Younis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Extras (b6 lb4 nb5). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Total (78 overs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232

Fall (cont): 5-174 6-213 7-218 8-227 9-229.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 22-3-64-5 (3nb); Waqar Younis 18-2-69-4; Mushtaq Ahmed 21-3-51-1; Akram Raza 10-1-19-0; Aamir Sohail 7-0-19-0 (2nb).

PAKISTAN - Second innings

Saeed Anwar not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 Aamir Sohail run out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Zahid Fazal c Boon b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 * Salim Malik c Taylor b Angel . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Akram Raza not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Extras: (b2 lb3 nb2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Total (for 3). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155

Fall: 1-45 2-64 3-148.

To bat: Inzamam-ul-Haq, Basit Ali, Rashid Latif, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Mushtaq Ahmed.

Bowling (to date): D G McGrath 6-2-18-0; J Angel 12-4-34-1; S R Waugh 9-2-12-0; S K Warne 17-5-46-1; T B A May 10-3-36-0; M E Waugh 3-1- 4-0.