Australia rally on day two
Cricket tips 
/ Andy Morris / 05 January 2010 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
Australia are still in the match after staging a late fightback against Pakistan on day two of the second test at the SCG, writes Andy Morris.
Unless weather intervenes, a draw looks very unlikely at this stage and Pakistan remain good value to draw level in the series.
The home side took seven wickets in the final session of the day, to give themselves hope after Pakistan were 2-205 at one stage.
Even so, Pakistan will have a sizeable lead after their first innings as they hold a 204-run lead with one wicket remaining going into day three.
Imran Farhat and Salman Butt had put on 109 for the first wicket, and Pakistan looked well set, when Farhat went shortly after bringing up his half century.
Haddin to the rescue
Nathan Hauritz broke the stand when Farhat got a top edge and lobbed an easy catch to Brad Haddin.
The Australians badly needed to remove Salman Butt, who had looked dangerous and reached 71 before Mitchell Johnson suckered him into playing a shot to a ball that seemed away, and Haddin pouched a simple catch.
But the tourists had reached 2-205 before Australia struck again, when Peter Siddle had Faisal Iqbal caught at deep backward point, a well taken catch from Shane Watson.
Skipper Mohammad Yousuf was just four short of a half century when Johnson got him with an angled delivery and Haddin produced an excellent diving take.
Bollinger successful review bid
The home side began to take wickets at regular intervals after that, with Doug Bollinger striking to remove Umar Akmal for 49, given out lbw after a review by Australia, then inducing an edge through to Haddin to remove Misbah-ul-Haq.
Bollinger claimed his third wicket when he saw Kamran Akmal slice a drive to Watson at deep point, then Watson had Umar Gul out for 12 when Bollinger took a good catch at deep midwicket.
The ninth wicket went down when Mohammad Sami tried a big shot but was caught behind off Watson for 13.
There is still plenty of work ahead for Australia, but they will not count themselves out of the possibility of still winning this match as they have three full days left and the pitch looks a good one for batting.
What they need is to put their dismal first innings behind them and start afresh, cope with the pace of the Pakistani attack and look to play patiently.
Unless weather intervenes, a draw looks very unlikely at this stage and Pakistan remain good value to draw level in the series.
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