By Peter Roebuck in Karachi

AN ASTONISHING catch from Inzamam-ul-Haq and three wickets in 13 balls from Shahid Afridi gave Pakistan the edge in the third Test after a gripping first day played on a pitch that, after tea, began to live up to its reputation as a turner.

Composed batting from Michael Slater and colleagues had taken Australia to 169 for two as Shahid began the ninth over of his Test career. Mark Taylor had fallen long before, pulling at Arshad Khan, one of six spinners playing, none with more than three Tests to their name. Justin Langer had also departed, hit on the toe as Shoaib Akhtar hurled the ball down from around the wicket.

Slater was patience itself as Pakistan's tall finger spinners maintained a tight line and length.

Meanwhile, Mark Waugh had also settled carefully and seemed capable of producing a big score as he faced the leg-spinner. Finding a wideish ball of indeterminate length, Waugh cut hard and was thunderstruck to see the ball strike gully and rebound a yard behind slip from which position a previously statuesque Inzamam flung himself full-length to take a stunning one-handed catch. At his sharpest, Inzamam more resembles an elephant than a cat. Here, he was handicapped by a foot injury incurred in practice and was only playing because Saeed Anwar withdrew in mysterious circumstances.

Inspired, Shahid began to bowl menacingly. Two balls later, his remarkable faster delivery confounded Steve Waugh. Next, Darren Lehmann was bowled off bat and pad as he drove generously towards an unpatrolled cover region. Australia had slipped to 179 for five.

Now came the crucial wicket. For 5.25 hours, Slater had batted as might a man who has discovered his own mortality. He foraged for runs and even his occasional sprees were under control.

After surviving a buffeting from Wasim Akram, Slater put his head down, playing the spinners off the back foot. After lunch, he produced some powerful drives, lifting Arshad's off-spinners back over his head, his blows including two sixes. He reached 96, whereupon Aamir Sohail brought in his field. Slater saw his chance, charged, swished and missed. It was his fifth dismissal in the 90s in Test cricket and he could hardly drag himself from the field.

Pakistan pressed hard but could not strike again. None the less, it was their day. They bowled accurately and the fielding was keen. Their selectors had been brave enough to choose inexperienced spinners, though Shakeel Ahmed is 32. Certainly, Saqlain Mushtaq was not missed because his form has been poor.

The Australians, 1-0 up in the three-Test series, were left to regret their missed opportunity. They have not won a series in Pakistan since 1959-60 and were on top until Inzamam's intervention.

Players found guilty of match-fixing will be banned for life if the International Cricket Council accept a recommendation made by their affiliate members.

``We are considering a proposal to impose life bans on players and officials found guilty,'' an ICC official said, adding that the existing ICC rule, which imposes a seven-year ban, was inadequate. The ICC, however, will not hold their own inquiry but leave the respective boards to investigate.

Following our brief reference (Sept 14) to the judicial commission investigating allegations of match-fixing in Pakistan, we wish to make clear that the purpose of the arrest warrants issued by Justice Qayyum was to compel the attendance of witnesses whose statements were required. No arrest proved necessary, and on Tuesday, Intikhab Alam, the former Pakistan Test captain and team manager, gave an in-camera statement to the commission. Ramiz Raja, Javed Burki and Basit Ali have also given statements in compliance with the commission's requirements. Intikhab, Ramiz and Javed are not alleged to have been involved in the alleged match-fixing.

Day 2: Pakistan given hope by Sohail

By Peter Roebuck in Karachi

ANOTHER fascinating contest saw Pakistan trying gamely on the second day of the third and final Test against Australia to retrieve a position imperilled by indiscreet strokes played earlier in proceedings.

On a pitch that rewarded those prepared to work for their runs, Pakistan's top batsmen played a series of ill-advised shots, including hooks and cuts and others of no particular category. It took a determined effort from Aamir Sohail and some contributions from old hands to restore home aspirations.

Despite suffering two early blows, Australia had the best of it, at any rate until Pakistan fought back in the closing stages. After Gavin Robertson had been alertly held at silly point and Colin Miller confounded by a ball Wasim Akram might have saved for a worthier opponent, a swift end to the Australian innings was anticipated. After all, Stuart MacGill averages 7.76 in first-class cricket and only Glenn McGrath remained in the hutch.

Instead, the Australians held firm as MacGill presented a straight bat to Akram's yorkers and generally kept his wits about him. Meanwhile, Ian Healy batted in his crusty way, surviving a chance to silly point at 26 but otherwise appearing secure.

Fifty-five runs had been added in 105 crucial minutes before Healey fell to Arshad Khan, though he took a dim view of his downfall. Finally, McGrath was caught at mid-on as Shahid Afridi marked his promising debut with a fifth wicket. MacGill promptly shook his hand. It might as well have been the other way around. All told, it had been a memorable morning for the leg-spinners.

Hitherto McGrath had not managed to find his rhythm. Perhaps he is feeling the pressure put upon him by Shane Warne's absence. He needed a few wickets and he took them. Surprisingly asked to open, Afridi drove wildly and was neatly held at the slip. Next, Ijaz Ahmed hooked at a ball above his head and was caught behind. Presently a hobbling Inzamam-ul-Haq was taken at short cover off bat and pad, an astute piece of field placement by the visiting captain.

Salim Malik also departed before tea, languidly cutting a long hop to cover. MacGill had started well and this was his worst delivery. Later he dropped too short and the Australians failed to giveMcGrath the support he needed. Australia might yet regret choosing an unbalanced team.

If Sohail was dismayed by these losses he did not show it, as he continued to construct his most composed innings of the series. Yousuf Yohanna was his new partner, a young man from a humble background, the sixth child of a railway worker and proof that Pakistan cricketers nowadays appear from all quarters. Yousuf is also a Christian, the fourth to represent Pakistan, rather more it is thought, than have played for Australia.

Alas, Yousuf also fell to a loose stroke, bowled as he pulled at Robertson's faster ball to leave Pakistan in disarray at 69 for five.

Sohail and his experienced cohorts set about restoring Pakistan's position. Moin Kham hit hard square of the wicket before hooking an easy catch whereupon Akram kept his captain company and also found time to play some rousing strokes of his own to leave Pakistan with hope still intact.

``I needed support at the other end and Wasim and Moin gave me that. It will be fine if we come close to their total,'' said Sohail.

However, a clearly upset Pakistani coach Javed Miandad was less impressed. ``We fielded poorly to give 50 extra runs and then our batsmen batted irresponsibly which led to this situation,'' he said.

Day 3: Taylor takes box seat in push for victory

By Peter Roebuck in Karachi

ANOTHER accomplished innings from Mark Taylor has put Australia on top in a slowly moving match notable for its sudden shift of fortune. Batting with aplomb on a Karachi pitch stubbornly refusing to turn to dust in this final Test of a three-match series, Taylor reached his half-century by driving his 125th ball to the straight boundary, thereby spoiling the figures of Arshad Khan, upon whose languid and teasing off-breaks Pakistan leant heavily.

Taylor kept his wicket intact until stumps and left the field with his arm around Justin Langer, a dutiful partner.

It was a fine effort by Taylor and it might be enough to stop him retiring after the Ashes campaign. He is batting as well as anyone and his team is winning. The 103-run stand between Taylor and Langer, which extended the lead to 158 at the end of the third day, has given Australia - already 1-0 up - a wonderful chance of winning their first series in Pakistan for 39 years; and this on a ground where Taylor's captaincy began four years ago in a match in which he scored a pair, dropped several catches and saw his team lose by a single wicket in a tour which threw up complications still under investigation.

Langer was every bit as determined to protect his wicket as his more experienced colleague. He prefers hard pitches and faster bowlers that allow him to play his shots square of the wicket. Here, he put his head down and helped to frustrate Pakistan's attempts to break through. Defiance was needed after Michael Slater had been held at short leg as he pushed forward to Arshad.

Try as they might, the Pakistanis could not separate this pair. Neither of their pacemen could find any encouragement in the pitch, nor were the Australians as willing to take risks as their counterparts. Accordingly it fell to Arshad and Shakeel Ahmed, a 32-year-old left-armer whose bowling offers the element of surprise, to take the wicket. For his part, Shahid Afridi could not recapture the effervescence of his previous performance. The lemonade had gone flat. Arshad was the main threat and he might have removed both batsmen. Langer survived a close call for a catch around the bat on 23 while Taylor was dropped at square leg with 15 minutes left to play.

Arshad suffered agonies, but he continued to wheel away, landing the ball upon a rupee. Had not the umpires remained alert more wickets might have fallen anyhow. As it was, David Orchard and Riaz Uddin remained imperturbable as Pakistan appealed regularly, though not unfairly. Riaz Uddin is a good umpire who tends to fall from favour. Both men kept their wits about them, once pointing out to Aamir Sohail that the ball was becoming disconcertingly ragged, an intervention that displeased Wasim Akram. Happily they did not feel obliged to insist upon a change. Perhaps it was merely a gentle warning.

By batting so skilfully, the visitors recovered a position undermined by a superb effort from Sohail to which Akram gave some unusually patient support. Akram's sole fling came on 20 as he dashed at an off-break and was dropped at mid-off.

Avoiding the hot-brained strokes that have often been his downfall, Sohail batted with a mixture of responsibility and judgment as he guided his team from 69 for five to 214 for six, whereupon, immed- iately after the drinks break, his partner did not offer a stroke to a straight ball and was out to Stuart MacGill.

Shakeel appeared and proceeded to play almost exclusively with his pads. It is hard to recall a more painful innings being played in respectable company. Feeling the momentum slipping away, Sohail hit out and was athletically caught on the square leg boundary to end an innings lasting five and a half hours. This gave Glenn McGrath five wickets in a Test innings for the 10th time.

He was easily Australia's best bowler and will be England's most dangerous opponent this winter. Gavin Robertson bowled his off-spinners tidily and without much luck. Since studying under Erinpath Prasanna he has added flight and dip to his game. MacGill bowled presentably in patches and has taken 14 wickets in the series. Nonetheless, Australia's mid-innings bowling appears to be a little thin.

No sooner had Sohail departed than Shakeel followed as he lamely parried a ball to short leg, whereupon Arshad missed a full toss to leave Pakistan all out 28 runs adrift, an advantage upon which Australia built in a confident if wary manner.

Day 4: Gritty Waugh ends Pakistan series hopes

By Peter Roebuck in Karachi

IT is hard to recall Australia's top order batting with more resolution than they showed during the third Test in Karachi yesterday.

By keeping their wickets intact for hour upon hot hour they put the match, and any realistic chance of levelling the series, beyond Pakistan. Only the last rites remain on the final day today.

Playing with impressive commitment, Pakistan attacked time and again and were repulsed. It was gripping cricket and exhausting even for spectators. By stumps Pakistan's hopes were a great deal dustier than a remarkably unchanging pitch.

Mark Waugh led the way for Australia, atoning for his leading part in Justin Langer's downfall with an innings of 117, involving the utmost restraint. Hard-pressed upon arrival by one of those spells of which Wasim Akram alone seems capable, and permitting himself only the most calculated risks against the spinners, Waugh kept his head throughout a long afternoon.

It took him 295 minutes to reach his fourth Test hundred of the year and the 15th of his career. Neither Waugh nor his team were inclined to give anything away. The Australians easily resisted the temptation to throw the game open. They do not intend to return empty-handed.

Waugh was not alone in the intensity of his efforts. Australia suffered two early blows, losing Taylor and Langer in the opening hour. Much to the delight of a boisterous crowd, who roared and banged water bottles, Taylor fell as he swept at Arshad Khan's unrelenting off-breaks, and Langer's 220th minute proved his last as Waugh called him for an improbable single to square leg where Ijaz Ahmed pounced.

Helped by some slices of luck and imperturbable umpiring from Riazuddin, whose high-quality work demanded elevation to the international panel, Australia survived Wasim's searing opening spell.

David Orchard, Riazuddin's colleague, made plain his thoughts about celebratory appealing by telling fieldsmen to hold their positions until the decision had been made. Not that the Pakistanis are the only offenders in this regard, or the worst.

Pakistan's spinners could not prevent the Waughs scoring in their characteristic ways. Steve batted with typical tenacity while his twin brother combined grace and duty. Nonetheless every run had to be earned, and the Waughs fought hard merely to survive. Only Shakeel Ahmed's left-arm spinners, delivered with a round arm, fell short of the mark.

After lunch Pakistan surged again and soon Steve Waugh was caught behind as he cut, though he departed grumpily as is his wont. Striving to protect his place, Darren Lehmann started shakily, but kept his senior company as Australia took tea at 284 for four.

By now many Pakistani reporters were wearing black armbands in protest at harsh words spoken to Waheed Khan, one of their number, by Steve Bernard, the Australian manager.

Bernard had not bothered to hide his fury at Waheed, who had cast aspersions about Taylor's declaration in Peshawar when his own overnight score was on 334, in sight of the world record.

In most opinions, Taylor's decision was an unselfish act. Attempts were being made to muddy the waters.

Lehmann fell to the second new ball in the aftermath of tea, Ijaz taking a diving catch at cover as the batsman cut off the front foot, and further encouragement came as Ian Healy hoisted a hook to reward Shoaib Akhtar, a paceman whose fires were not easily extinguished.

Pakistan kept trying, but Gavin Robertson took root and by the time Waugh was beaten through the air the game was beyond their reach. At least Pakistan had attacked. Their periods of relative inactivity had cost them dear.

With the ball taking some turn, Pakistan need 419 to win and they will do well to stave off defeat.

Day 5: Australia seal series victory over Pakistan

By Peter Roebuck in Karachi

AUSTRALIA won their first series in Pakistan for 39 years when the third and final Test ended in a draw here yesterday. ``It is a dream come true. This series meant a lot to us and people back home because Pakistan have a phenomenal record at home,'' said Australia captain Mark Taylor, who celebrates his 34th birthday today.

Pakistan, set a 419-run victory target after Australia scored 390 in their second innings, finished on 262 for five after being reduced to 78 for four in the first session.

Australia won the first Test by an innings and 99 runs in Rawalpindi - their first Test win in Pakistan for 39 years - and drew the second in Peshawar.

Taylor has now won 10 out of 12 Test series and heads home for a five-Test Ashes series against England starting next month.

It was Australia's first series win in Pakistan since Richie Benaud's men beat Fazal Mahmood's team 2-0 in 1959-60. It was also Australia's first series victory in the subcontinent since Bill Lawry led Australia to a 3-1 win over Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi's India in 1969-70.

Taylor afterwards warned England to be aware of the prowess of his team. ``Last time we played England at home four years ago, we won the series 3-1 after having lost the series 1-0 to Pakistan. Now we have beaten Pakistan 1-0 so I am sure the result of the Ashes would be more convincing for us,'' Taylor said.

Pakistan comfortably saved a game played on a pitch from which all life had departed, despite losing three early wickets. Brought together by the fall of a fourth colleague just before lunch, Ijaz Ahmed and Moin Khan kept their opponents at bay for four hours.

Had Australia taken every chance offered, the day might have been theirs. Instead, they gave a lacklustre performance.

Colin Miller raised hopes of an Australian victory by taking three wickets in quick succession. After surviving a hectic start, Shahid Afridi seemed surprised to be given out caught behind as he pushed at a yorker. Aamir Sohail began brightly but was beaten by an in-swinger, whereupon Salim Malik shuffled across a slower ball he had not spotted, thereby completing a pair.

Yousuf Yohanna, whose first run took 49 minutes to come along, was neatly held at silly point as Stuart Macgill tried his luck around the wicket.

Throughout a gruelling afternoon, the fifth-wicket pair kept their wickets intact. Moin was eventually caught on the boundary as he pursued his hundred, but Australia made no further inroads. After 201 minutes of resistance, Ijaz reached his third hundred in successive matches against these opponents and he remained unbeaten.