Golden Moments: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755’s last Test win against Australia in 1995
Pakistan’s last test triumph against Australia came fifteen years ago on the 3rd of December 1995, when Pakistan’s googly specialist Mushtaq Ahmed’s 9 wicket haul bagged them a 74 runs victory in Sydney.
Though Pakistan lost the series in the end, but the third test win enabled Pakistan to regain their lost pride in their tour to Australia. Ijaz Ahmed’s 137 along with Mushtaq Ahmed’s wily leg-breaks led Pakistan to a 74 run win on the 4th Day of the Sydney Test.
Surprisingly, the 299 runs scored by Pakistan in the first-innings in Sydney was the highest single innings total of the game. Ijaz Ahmed’s seven and a half hours patient innings was the mainstay for Pakistan in the batting department. The 442 minutes stay at the crease earned him his third test century - his other two centuries came against the Australians as well. His 137 off 332 balls included seventeen boundaries and two sixes. It was an extremely defensive innings from Ijaz Ahmed that was spotted with intermittent drives and cuts on the off side. After cutting Craig McDermott over point, Ijaz clinched his third test century in the last over of Day one. Ijaz lost his wicket on 137 when he smashed Shane Warne’s knee-high full toss straight to Glenn McGrath standing at the deep backward square.
Ijaz Ahmed’s dismissal brought http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saqlain-Mushtaq-c88743 and Mushtaq Ahmed were not allowed to even open their accounts.
The Australians started their first innings in a poor manner as they lost three wickets with just 91 runs on the board. However, Mark and Steve Waugh helped the side come out of the plunging condition. The Waugh brothers played responsibly for an 82-run fourth inning partnership. By the end of the Day 2, Australia was 151 for three.
Day 3 saw Mushtaq Ahmad entering the field with fresh legs. The leg-spinner, supported by the wicket keeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915’s men were all out with 42 runs behind Pakistan’s 299. The only batsman who had bothered the Pakistani attack in the first innings was Mark Waugh, who scored his first ever test century at the home ground from a 262 minutes stay at the crease.
Pakistan’s second innings could get them 204 runs as the side suffered from four lbw decisions in its second innings and lost the last six wickets for just 103 runs. It left the hosts with a run-chase of just 247 runs in the fourth innings of the Sydney Test. Australia was well placed as they started the fourth day at 121 for three but a joint effort from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmad resulted in Australia getting all out for 172.
Since that day, Pakistan has been looking for a win against Australia in a five-day game but has not yet been successful. On the contrary, the situation became worse with the passage of time. Today, Pakistan team has lost twelve consecutive tests against the Australians and are once again confronting the Ashes favourites in a home series on English grounds. The Lord’s test is underway and the Pakistani attack once again resembles the one that defeated Australia some 15 years ago. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, at the close of first day, was tottering at 229 for 9. Some support from the batting line can hand Pakistan the triumphant moments of 3rd December 1995.
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