Cricket: Australia became the first nation to record 300 Test victories yesterday when Ricky Ponting's all-conquering side took an unassailable 2-0 series lead against Pakistan with a nine-wicket triumph in the second Test in Melbourne.
The tourists started the day in trouble at 85 for five in their second innings and, despite a stubborn 41 from Shoaib Malik, were duly bowled out for 163.
That set Australia a target of 126 and the hosts cruised to the win for the loss of Justin Langer. Matthew Hayden hit 56 not out with Ponting chipping in with an unbeaten 62.
"It's another great win for us, another great series win," said Ponting. "This side keeps rolling on and keeps breaking records. It's a great team to be a part of at the moment."
Pakistan needed a strong rearguard action to stand any chance of saving the match but lost Mohammad Sami (11) for the addition of just three runs to his overnight score before being trapped leg before by Jason Gillespie.
Kamran Akmal was fooled by Shane Warne and departed after only three deliveries to leave Pakistan 101 for seven, but Malik, returning to the crease after injuring his hand in the third over of the day, staged a mini-recovery with Abdul Razzaq.
However, when Malik tried to hit Warne over mid on and picked out Gillespie the end was near. Razzaq (19) followed six balls later, edging Glenn McGrath to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, before Shoaib Akhtar (14) was last man out, bowled by McGrath.
Australia lost Justin Langer, 2004's most prolific Test batsman, for five when he gloved Sami to wicketkeeper Akmal, but Hayden and Ponting saw Australia home to a record fifth series win in a calendar year.
Fittingly, it was Ponting who notched the winning runs with a huge six off spinner Danish Kaneria.
Australia have donated their prize money for winning the second Test to a fund for the tsunami victims in Asia. Their Aus$13,000 cheque for victory in Melbourne will now be sent to the disaster fund, while Cricket Australia (CA) want to arrange a charity match against Pakistan to raise more money.
They have also asked other cricket nations to help raise funds for the thousands affected by the tsunami, including those in the cricket-mad nations of Sri Lanka and India.
Spokesman Peter Young said CA were speaking with the International Cricket Council (ICC) about scheduling a day in the next few weeks where fundraising matches around the world could be played.
An ICC spokesman said the governing body would sanction extra matches being organised.
Overnight: Australia 379 (D Martyn 142, J Gillespie 50 no, J Langer 50; D Kaneria 5-125, S Akhtar 5-109) Pakistan 341 (Y Youhana 111, Younis Khan 87, S Butt 70) and 85-5.
Pakistan Second Innings
S Malik c Gillespie b Warne 41
M Sami lbw b Gillespie 11
A Razzaq c Gilchrist b McGrath 19
K Akmal lbw b Warne 0
S Akhtar b McGrath 14
D Kaneria not out 9
Extras (b4 lb1 nb1) 6
Total (64.2 overs) ... 163
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-13, 3-35, 4-60, 5-68, 6-98, 7-101, 8-140, 9-140.
Bowling: McGrath 11.2-1-35-4, Gillespie 12-7-15-2, Kasprowicz 16-3-42-1, Warne 25-7-66-3.
Australia Second Innings
J Langer c Akmal b Sami 5
M Hayden not out 56
R Ponting not out 62
Extras (lb2 nb2) 4
Total (1 wkt, 27.5 overs) ... 127
Fall of wicket: 1-11.
Did Not Bat: D Martyn, D Lehmann, M Clarke, A Gilchrist, S Warne, J Gillespie, M Kasprowicz, G McGrath.
Bowling: Akhtar 7-0-35-0, Sami 5-0-22-1, Kaneria 10.5-1-52-0, Farhat 5-2-16-0.
