Asif wrecks Aussies with six-wicket haul

The home side was dismissed shortly before stumps after winning the toss and electing to bat on a green top.

Paceman Mohammad Asif was the chief destroyer with career-best figures of six for 41 — the second-best return by a Pakistani bowler at the SCG — while Mohammad Sami made an impressive return to Test cricket with three important wickets. Bad light stopped play for the day 10 minutes before scheduled close, the visitors to resume day two at 14 for no loss with Imran Farhat on nine and Salman Butt on three.

Rain delayed the start of play until 2.00 pm local time, and Ricky Ponting was left regretting his decision to bat soon after play got underway.

Phillip Hughes and Ponting fell for ducks in successive balls, while Shane Watson (6), Michael Clarke (3), Michael Hussey (28), Marcus North (10) and Brad Haddin (6) too failed to prosper as the Pakistan quicks made the most of perfect bowling conditions on offer.

Sami took the first three wickets before the impressive Asif took over, to snare the next six scalps. Sami had a Test bowling average of 51 coming into the match, but he was almost unplayable as he ripped through the Aussie top order.

Score Board
Australia (I Innings)
Watson c K Akmal b Sami    6
Hughes c Iqbal b Sami    0
Ponting c Gul b Sami    0
Hussey c Misbah b Asif    28
Clarke b Asif    3
North c K Akmal b Asif    10
Haddin c Yousuf b Asif    6
Johnson c Farhat b Asif    38
Hauritz b Asif    21
Siddle (not out)    1
Bollinger b Gul    9
Extras (B-1, lb-2, W-1, nb-1)    5     
Total (all out; 44.2 overs)    127
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-2, 3-10, 4-36, 5-51, 6-51, 7-62, 8-106, 9-117.
Bowling: Asif 20-6-41-6, Sami 12-4-27-3, Gul 10.2-0-38-1, Kaneria 2-0-18-0.
Pakistan (I Innings)
Farhat (batting)    9
Butt (batting)    3
Extras (lb-1, nb-1)    2     
Total (for no loss, 4.1 overs)    14
Bowling: Bollinger 2.1-0-4-0, Siddle 2-0-9-0.