Australia v New Zealand - Second Test

Bellerive Oval, Hobart

Australia: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, AR Border, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, +IA Healy, *R Benaud, AK Davidson, DK Lillee, JR Thomson.
New Zealand: GM Turner, MH Richardson, BE Congdon, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, RJ Hadlee, +KJ Wadsworth, BR Taylor, J Cowie, SL Boock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: HD Bird (ENG) & D Sang Hue (WI)
Toss: Australia

After the stirring events in Brisbane it was almost inevitable that the second Test in Hobart would be something of an anti-climax, and so it proved as Australia crushed New Zealand by ten wickets in less than three days playing time at the Bellerive Oval. Richie Benaud won an important toss on a hot and humid first morning, and having inserted the tourists on a green wicket Australia hustled them out before stumps for just 192, with Benaud not having to call on his own bowling as his seam attack did all the damage.

With Lindwall rested, Lillee and Thomson played together for the first time in an ATG Test, but they only took one wicket apiece as the lesser pace of Davidson and the unlikely figure of McCabe caused the most problems. Congdon compiled an assured fifty, sharing stands of 62 with Turner (35) and 46 with Donnelly (28), and at 116-3 New Zealand were handily placed, but the run outs of Donnelly and Reid knocked the stuffing out of the middle order, allowing Davidson to clean up the tail with figures of 4-33.

A spectacular thunderstorm curtailed Australia's reply on the first evening, and in conducive bowling conditions on the second morning the hosts were reduced to 69-4 at lunch in a dramatic repeat of the events of the first Test. Woodfull, Lawry and McCabe were all caught in the cordon, and Bradman's woes continued when he edged Cowie behind for 7, the third time in three innings that Cowie has captured the Don's wicket. Border was still there though, and just as in Brisbane the Australians were able to rescue the innings as New Zealand were unable to force home their advantage.

A clearly unfit Miller managed to contribute 28 to a 77 run stand for the fifth wicket, and attacking forties from both Healy and Davidson, who was dropped on 5 by Congdon off Hadlee, allowed Australia to edge first past 200 then on towards 300. All this time Border was nudging and nurdling his way to a hard earned century, the ninth of his ATG career, and although his form of counter-attack was not perhaps as enthralling as that of Miller's at the Gabba, it was every bit as crucial.

Australia were eventually bowled out for 308 on the third morning, Border ninth out for a six hour 131. He was one of six catches in the innings for Wadsworth, a world record for ATG Tests - although Alan Knott has previously claimed five catches and a stumping in the same innings - and with the deserving Jack Cowie claiming his first five wicket haul New Zealand could claim at least a little solace. Australia nonetheless held a commanding lead of 116, and by the end of the day they had done what New Zealand had failed to do, that is to force home the advantage when they were on top.

New Zealand were comfortably placed at 101-2 when rain forced the players from the field shortly after tea, but just as in the first innings the wheels then came off, but this time in even more spectacular fashion. Jeff Thomson switched to the Church Street End and delivered one of the most ferocious spells imaginable, claiming 5-19 as New Zealand slumped to 145-9 by the time stumps were drawn. Turner's three hour 47 was the only significant resistance, and having come so close in the first Test New Zealand's capitulation here was all the more disappointing. Thomson completed his second six wicket haul of the series on the fourth morning when he splayed Taylor's stumps, and Woodfull and Lawry knocked off the 39 runs Australia needed to complete a ten wicket victory half an hour before lunch, a victory that also secured the series.

Thomson's pace had undone New Zealand for the second match in succession, but just as in Brisbane, New Zealand found themselves unable to capitalize whenever they found themselves in positions of strength, with Allan Border organizing the Australian rescue efforts on this occasion. The Kiwis will be keen to avoid a whitewash in Perth, but given the events of the first two Tests one would not want to bet against the Australians now.

Scores
NZL 1st Inns 192 (Congdon 54; Davidson 4-33)
AUS 1st Inns 308 (Border 131, Healy 41, Davidson 40; Cowie 5-103)
NZL 2nd Inns 154 (Turner 47; Thomson 6-30)
AUS 2nd Inns 42-0

AUSTRALIA WON BY 10 WICKETS

Man of the Match: AR Border

Australia v New Zealand - First Test

Woolloongabba, Brisbane

Australia: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, AR Border, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, +IA Healy, *R Benaud, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, JR Thomson.
New Zealand: GM Turner, MH Richardson, BE Congdon, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, RJ Hadlee, +KJ Wadsworth, BR Taylor, J Cowie, SL Boock.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: HD Bird (ENG) & D Sang Hue (WI)
Toss: Australia

Despite many predictions of a one-sided series, Australia and New Zealand combined to produce one of the classic Test matches in Brisbane, a game with enough excitement, entertainment and emotion to last a series. Proceedings got off to an explosive start when Australia were reduced to 14-3 then 45-4 on the first morning, Jack Cowie taking advantage of a hard and true track at the Gabba, but McCabe and Miller rallied in spectacular fashion, counter-attacking to the tune of 218 runs in a fifth wicket stand that dug Australia out of a deep hole. McCabe eventually fell in the first day's final hour for 110, but Miller batted on into day two for a career-high 154 before becoming Cowie's fourth victim and one of five for Ken Wadsworth, and with Healy adding an undefeated 48 Australia managed to post a respectable 373.

New Zealand replied in confident fashion, and with Lindwall and Thomson - a late replacement for the injured Lillee - wasting the new ball, Turner and Richardson were able to compile an excellent 176 run stand for the first wicket before Benaud trapped Richardson lbw for 87 shortly before the close on day two. Turner completed his fifth ATG hundred in the day's final over, but he was one of three further lbw victims on the third morning as the Kiwi innings stumbled somewhat to 253-4, Donnelly (21) getting a shocking decision from umpire Sang Hue. Crowe dug in though, and his anchoring 82, along with attacking cameos from Reid (32) and Wadsworth (57, including four sixes off Benaud), took the tourists to 428 - their highest ever total against Australia - and a valuable 55 run lead.

Australia really were in a fight now, and once again their top order failed. It was 28-3 when a struggling Bradman was bowled for 20 by a Cowie off-cutter shortly before stumps on day three, and when Taylor nipped out both Border and McCabe on the fourth morning Australia were 86-5 and staring an embarrassing defeat firmly in the face. Fortune now favoured Australia, though: Healy should have been sent on his way for 0 but umpire Sang Hue, who was having a shocking game, failed to detect an edge off Taylor, and then Miller was dropped on 35 by Richardson in the gully. These errors allowed Miller and Healy to put on 114 crucial runs for Australia, Miller stroking his way to 86 to earn his second standing ovation of the match. Healy continued on to notch a gutsy, three and a half hour 50, but with Cowie claiming another four wicket haul and Wadsworth equalling the world record with nine dismissals in the match, Australia were eventually all out for 262 on the final morning, leaving New Zealand 79 overs to knock off the 208 they needed for victory.

The stage seemed set for the greatest of upsets, especially with Lindwall unable to bowl having pulled a calf muscle whilst batting. Thomson and Miller roared in with the new ball though, and backed by Benaud's attacking fields and a boisterous crowd they reduced New Zealand to a sorry 61-5 by mid-afternoon. Turner and Crowe had been dispatched by two more poor decisions from Sang Hue, but renewed hope came the Black Caps' way when Miller had to hobble off the field having taken 3-17, his exertions in the match finally getting the better of him. Reid and Hadlee nudged New Zealand past the hundred mark with a 52 run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Benaud's dismissal of Reid for 34 proved crucial. A brief stoppage for bad light after tea couldn't save New Zealand, and Jeff Thomson returned to blow away the tail to finish with 6-51, his best ever ATG analysis.

New Zealand had been knocked over for 154, and a dramatic last day had come to an end with Australia victorious in a match they should have lost. Had the Kiwis been able to call upon the mental toughness displayed by Miller then the result may have been different, but the hope is now for a far closer series than was originally anticipated.

Scores
AUS 1st Inns: 373 (Miller 154, McCabe 110, Healy 48*; Cowie 4-79)
NZL 1st Inns: 428 (Turner 113, Richardson 87, Crowe 82, Wadsworth 57; Davidson 4-81)
AUS 2nd Inns: 262 (Miller 86, Healy 55; Cowie 4-49)
NZL 2nd Inns: 154 (Thomson 6-51)

AUSTRALIA WON BY 53 RUNS


Man of the Match: KR Miller

Australia v New Zealand - Tour Match

Australian XI v New Zealanders
Hobart
4 Day Game
Umpires: PJ McConnell & MW Johnson
Toss: Australian XI

Austalian XI: MJ Slater, GR Marsh, DC Boon, ME Waugh, *KJ Hughes, DW Hookes, +WB Phillips, DW Fleming, MG Hughes, RM Hogg, BA Reid.
New Zealanders: GM Turner, MH Richardson, BE Congdon, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, RJ Hadlee, +KJ Wadsworth, BR Taylor, J Cowie, SL Boock.

Morale will be high in the New Zealand camp ahead of the Test series after a relatively comfortable victory over an Australian XI in Hobart, but enough questions and uncertainties still linger to ensure that the tourists will remain as firm underdogs once battle begins in earnest.

Kim Hughes' Australians failed to make the most of batting first on a placid pitch at the Bellerive Oval, with the captain himself alone in passing 50 after a succession of his comrades made starts only to get out. Hadlee's 4-75 led the way for the tourists, and Cowie and Taylor bowled with accuracy and aggression respectively as New Zealand turned in a professional performance in the field, limiting their hosts to a decidedly under par 296.

The Kiwis had little trouble in passing the Australian XI's total, with Congdon, Crowe and Reid all posting fifties, but the last four wickets fell for just eight runs to limit the tourists to 344 and an advantage of just 48. Reid was dropped three times on his way to matching Kim Hughes' 94, and as entertaining as his innings was, one wonders whether such generosity will be on offer come the Tests. Nonetheless, the New Zealanders were firmly on top at the halfway stage, and another four wicket haul from Richard Hadlee helped rout the Australians for just 149 in their second innings as the Kiwis pressed home their advantage. Michael Slater bagged a pair as the Australians stumbled to 19-3, and John Reid will have been very pleased with the way in which his bowlers finished off proceedings.

New Zealand made a bit of a meal in knocking off the 102 runs they required for victory, losing as they did four wickets along the way, but an assured looking Martin Crowe made the winning hit shortly before tea on the final day, and he will make up one part of a middle order that looks in good form ahead of the Test matches. Neither of the openers, Turner and Richardson, made a score here though, which is a worry, and Australian Test skipper Richie Benaud will have surely made a note of the fact that a number of the Kiwi batsmen looked less than comfortable against the short pitched delivery here; what price a 'Perth flyer' in the third Test? All in all though, New Zealand will have been happy with their performance in Hobart, and they will arrive in Brisbane in good heart ahead of the first Test.

Scores
AUS XI 1st Inns 296 (KJ Hughes 94, Fleming 40*; Hadlee 4-75)
NZL 1st Inns 344 (Reid 94, Congdon 62, Crowe 60; Hogg 4-75)
AUS XI 2nd Inns 149 (Hadlee 4-36)
NZL 2nd Inns 102-4 (Crowe 48*)

NEW ZEALANDERS WON BY 6 WICKETS

Australia v New Zealand - Series Preview

Australia are viewed as huge favourites ahead of this, the third ATG Trans-Tasman clash, and justifiably so; Australia sit second in the world rankings and New Zealand remain firmly anchored to the bottom, having yet to win an ATG series. However, it must be remembered that Australia have won only one series out of their last eight - that being their 2-0 victory in New Zealand - and a record of just three wins in their last fifteen Tests hardly inspires faith. Don Bradman's lack of form during this period has reduced him to the status of mere mortal, but the retention of the Ashes under Richie Benaud's leadership will have increased confidence in the Aussie camp, and there is every possibility that the Kiwis could fall victim to an Australian return to form.

However, John Reid's New Zealand did win their last Test, against Pakistan, and although that was just their fourth win in 36 attempts, there is an air of qualified expectation in the New Zealand camp. Bert Sutcliffe and Lance Cairns earn recalls in a touring party of 15, and the tour kicks off in Hobart with a four day game against an Australian XI, with three Test matches to follow.

New Zealand Squad
JR Reid (c), BE Congdon (v/c), SL Boock, BL Cairns, J Cowie, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, RJ Hadlee, DK Morrison, DN Patel, MH Richardson, B Sutcliffe, BR Taylor, GM Turner, KJ Wadsworth.

Pakistan v West Indies - Series Summary

Having never beaten Pakistan in eight previous ATG Tests, West Indies became just the fifth side to come from behind to win a series after four Tests of entertaining cricket and fluctuating fortune. Pakistan threatened a repeat of their 4-0 success in the Caribbean after a comprehensive victory in the first Test in Karachi, but following a classic drawn Test in Faisalabad, West Indies welcomed back skipper Garry Sobers after he had missed the first two matches with injury, and his influence told as the tourists rallied to win the final two matches and take the spoils.

Although six different players recorded centuries for West Indies, only Haynes and Lloyd batted with any consistency, and Viv Richards endured his most disappointing series for some time, averaging just 33 from his eight innings. It was a similar story with the ball, as only Michael Holding threatened on a regular basis, but timely performances from Marshall and Walsh in the third Test and Gibbs in the fourth provided a cutting edge when it really mattered, and Marshall and Holding also compiled two vital partnerships with the bat in Peshawar that ultimately proved pivotal in the outcome of the series.

Pakistan opened with a bang, running up their highest ever team total in the first Test as Javed Miandad broke his own individual batting record in the process, but it was very much a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show' for Javed over the course of the remaining three Tests, and whilst the likes of Zaheer, Majid and Asif Iqbal all had their moments with the bat, there was never the consistency that was required for long term success, with the opening partnership of Hanif Mohammad and Saeed Anwar a particular disappointment. Asif and Imran both contributed on a regular basis with the ball, but received little support; Qadir and Akram were disappointing, whilst Waqar's performance was a complete let-down after his recent demolition job in New Zealand.

West Indies have now won three series on the trot as their rise back up the rankings continues, but despite recently setting a record of 15 Tests without defeat, Pakistan have failed to win any of their last three series, proving that it's tough at the top in the world of ATG cricket.

Pakistan Batting
Javed Miandad 443 runs @ 63.29, Zaheer Abbas 324 @ 46.29, Majid Khan 300 @ 42.86, Asif Iqbal 247 @ 41.17, Imran Khan 240 @ 40.00

Pakistan Bowling
Imran Khan 20 wkts @ 25.00, Asif Iqbal 10 @ 29.40, Wasim Akram 11 @ 34.82, Abdul Qadir 11 @ 34.91, Waqar Younis 12 @ 43.83

West Indies Batting
CH Lloyd 328 runs @ 54.67, DL Haynes 412 @ 51.50, GStA Sobers 146 @ 48.67, MA Holding 178 @ 44.50, CG Greenidge 331 @ 41.38

West Indies Bowling
MA Holding 16 wkts @ 26.38, CA Walsh 12 @ 33.42, LR Gibbs 14 @ 34.29, MD Marshall 15 @ 34.80

WEST INDIES WON THE SERIES 2-1


Players of the Series: Asif Iqbal & MA Holding

Pakistan v West Indies - Fourth Test

Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Pakistan: Hanif Mohammad, Saeed Anwar, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, *Imran Khan, +Wasim Bari, Fazal Mahmood, Abdul Qadir, Waqar Younis.
West Indies: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, IVA Richards, EdeC Weekes, CH Lloyd, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, MA Holding, LR Gibbs, CA Walsh.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: VK Ramaswamy (IND) & LP Rowan (AUS)
Toss: West Indies

It was winner takes all in Lahore following West Indies' narrow victory in Peshawar, and the cast was almost identical, Fazal Mahmood's inclusion in place of Wasim Akram (side strain) the only change on either side. A very flat looking strip meant that the team winning the toss should gain a significant advantage, and Garry Sobers' correct call gave West Indies the first opportunity to use the immaculately prepared facilities.

Haynes (4) was an early casualty, driving Imran to Qadir at mid off from just the fourth ball of the match, but West Indies dominated the rest of the day's proceedings, rattling up an imposing 361-5 by close of play and eventually totalling 428 at a pace exceeding four runs an over. The innings centred around two partnerships: Greenidge (73) and Richards (103) added 154 for the second wicket as both players found their best form for just about the first time in the series then, after a mid-afternoon wobble left West Indies on a potentially precarious 222-5, Sobers and Dujon took over with a wonderfully phlegmatic, clinically efficient sixth wicket stand.

Both players reached richly deserved centuries during the course of their 178 run liaison, a West Indian record, and Dujon became the first wicket keeper to record the double of 2000 runs and 100 dismissals in the process. Waqar looked a shadow of the bowler that took all ten in New Zealand, and had it not been for Imran's perseverance then West Indies could have disappeared well beyond the horizon. As it was, a spell of 4-18 on the second morning allowed Pakistan's skipper to record his best ever analysis in ATG cricket, and it was now down to his batsmen to mount a worthy response to what was still a formidable total.

Eight players managed to reach double figures in Pakistan's reply, but crucially there were no centuries as the tourists' bowlers plugged away to secure a first innings lead of over a hundred. Saeed Anwar (76) and Majid Khan (52) were both missed by Dujon during a second wicket stand of 102, but once Anwar was well held in the gully by Gibbs off Marshall, wickets fell steadily as Pakistan failed to replicate the dominance displayed by the West Indian batsmen. The crowd became fractious when Javed was contentiously given out caught behind off Marshall by umpire Rowan, and with Pakistan's batting becoming ever more nervous, Holding snapped up the final four wickets as the innings closed on 306 half an hour after tea on the third evening.

West Indies now held the whip hand in this Test, and led by Gordon Greenidge they once again made batting look easy on the fourth day as Pakistan's weary attack continued to toil. Greenidge spanked a 93 ball century as he careered his way to 158, and with Haynes firmly anchored at the other end, 234 runs were amassed for the first wicket before Greenidge was smartly held by Wasim Bari off Qadir. Despite losing much of the afternoon session to rain West Indies managed to rack up a total of 274-3 before Sobers declared upon the fall of Haynes' wicket for 89, and Pakistan faced a target of 397 to win with 45 minutes on the fourth evening and all of the final day to get them.

Batting in the manner of West Indies could still give Pakistan the opportunity to pull of an incredible victory, and a lunchtime score of 103-1 on the final day might have provided the platform for such an onslaught, but a dramatic afternoon's play left West Indies as the only side capable of winning the match. Lance Gibbs finished the session with four wickets to his name after dismissing both openers in the forties, then a defiant partnership of 64 between Majid and Imran was cut off as both partners edged rising deliveries from Walsh and Holding in successive overs. Six wickets had fallen for 89 in a disastrous session for Pakistan, and they now faced defeat in both the match and the series. Brave resistance from the tail frustrated West Indies for a time after tea, but Gibbs took his fifth wicket by inducing Fazal to hole out to Holding for 17, and the new ball then accounted for Qadir (21) and Bari (19) as Pakistan were bowled out for 243, handing West Indies a well deserved victory with nine overs to spare.

West Indies had thus taken the series 2-1, ending the dominance that Pakistan had hitherto enjoyed over them, and their aggressive approach in this match had paid rich dividends. Pakistan had begun the series in fine fashion, but West Indies' tense victory in Peshawar was a crushing blow for the hosts, and a 153 run win here in Lahore rounded off what was eventually a most successful tour for Garry Sobers' team.

Scores
WI 1st Inns 428 (Sobers 104, Richards 103, Dujon 102, Greenidge 73; Imran Khan 6-86)
PAK 1st Inns 306 (Saeed Anwar 76, Majid Khan 52, Javed Miandad 45, Wasim Bari 40; Holding 4-53)
WI 2nd Inns 274-3 dec. (Greenidge 158, Haynes 89)
PAK 2nd Inns 243 (Majid Khan 59, Saeed Anwar 47, Hanif Mohammad 43; Gibbs 5-56)

WEST INDIES WON BY 153 RUNS

Man of the Match: CG Greenidge

Pakistan v West Indies - Third Test

Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar

Pakistan: Hanif Mohammad, Saeed Anwar, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, *Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, +Wasim Bari, Abdul Qadir, Waqar Younis.
West Indies: CG Greenidge, DL Haynes, IVA Richards, EdeC Weekes, CH Lloyd, *GStA Sobers, +PJL Dujon, MD Marshall, MA Holding, LR Gibbs, CA Walsh.

Debuts: Nil
Umpires: DR Shepherd (ENG) & AR Crafter (AUS)
Toss: Pakistan

With Viv Richards and returning skipper Garry Sobers becoming the first players to reach 50 ATG caps, there were celebrations in the West Indies' camp before a ball was bowled in Peshawar, but would the tourists still be celebrating after five days' play on a pitch that was not expected to go the distance?

It was a good toss to win for Imran, and it was honours Pakistan on first innings, with Majid Khan's fluent century the main difference between the two teams. Majid (130) and Zaheer (89) piled on 167 for the fourth wicket after Zaheer had been dropped on 12 by Marshall off the bowling of Gibbs, but once Marshall removed Majid during an excellent second morning spell, Pakistan lost their last seven wickets for just 97, with Imran's 48 the only other meaningful contribution out of a final total of 385. As a footnote to the innings, all ten wickets had fallen to catches, just the third such occurrence in ATG history.

West Indies' reply got off to a rocket start, Greenidge, Haynes and Richards all passing 50 as the score sped to 170-1 on the third morning, but after both Imran and Qadir had been savagely hit out of the attack, three separate stoppages for rain did not help the batsmen's concentration, and Waqar returned to wipe away the middle order before a defiant fifty partnership for the eighth wicket between Marshall (34) and Holding (31) pushed the total beyond 300. A resurgent Qadir bowled well at the end of the innings, which closed with West Indies having totalled 328, and Pakistan thus took a 57 run lead into what proved to be a pivotal fourth day.

Batting was now proving more difficult on a pitch that was offering up some uneven bounce, and after both openers had departed fending catches to Haynes at short leg, Javed (18), Zaheer (9) and Majid (39) all fell hooking as Walsh in particular got the ball to lift off a length with alarming regularity. At 96-5 Pakistan's innings was in danger of imploding, but Asif and Imran built an important stand that took the score to 134-5 at tea, and a lead of 191; the wheels fell off after the break though. Asif, trying to leave Walsh's first ball after tea, played on for 32, Akram lost his leg stump to the same bowler for 1, then Gibbs found some turn to sweep away the tail to finish with figures of 3-5 off 6.2 overs as Pakistan collapsed to 146 all out, the last five wickets having tumbled for 12 runs after the interval.

Walsh and Gibbs had bowled West Indies back into the match, and they now faced a target of 204 to secure their first ever ATG victory over Pakistan. Bad light brought day four to a premature close only three overs into the West Indies' innings, and with rain forecast for the final day the tourists would be battling the elements as well as a hostile track and a deteriorating wicket. Wasim Akram removed Greenidge and Richards early, but Haynes and Weekes took West Indies to within one ball of lunch at which time Haynes, on 43, feathered a rising delivery from Imran to give Wasim Bari his hundredth ATG victim and to leave the match on a knife edge once more, West Indies 88-3 and still 116 away from victory.

Weekes held firm in the afternoon and nudged past 50 for the first time in the series, but just when it looked as though West Indies were going to be able to engage cruise control, three wickets fell in the blink of an eye and the outcome was back in the melting pot again. Asif removed Weekes for 54, his off pole flattened with a beauty that jagged away sharply off the seam, Lloyd (15) slammed a return catch to Qadir after lofting the previous ball for six and Sobers was cleaned up by Waqar for just 6 to leave the innings teetering at 136-6, still 68 runs short of the winning post.

The tension was becoming almost unbearable, but Dujon and Marshall batted sensibly in adding 27 for the seventh wicket until Qadir gated the former for 12 with an excellent googly, and at 163-7 it would surely now have to be down to Marshall and Holding to see West Indies home, with only Gibbs and Walsh to come. The same pair had added a valuable 51 in the first innings, and once again they batted calmly, despite a succession of appeals and close shaves, generated in the main by the enigmatic Qadir, but at 190-7, just 14 runs away from victory, the promised rain finally fell and the teams spent an agonizing half hour in the pavilion until the umpires deemed conditions fit to resume.

We were now into the final hour, but with the skies still leaden it was highly doubtful that all the overs would be bowled, so Holding took it upon himself to wrap up proceedings quickly. A towering six off Qadir raised the 200 and took West Indies to within two runs of victory, and a dismissive drive through mid off in Akram's next over sealed the deal, giving West Indies their first ever triumph over Pakistan in eleven attempts and squaring the series at 1-1 with one to play. Marshall finished on 35*, Holding - who has now scored 175 runs in the series at an average of 58 - finished on 22*, and the pair had added a steely, undefeated 44 to see their side home. It had been a finish for the ages in Peshawar, and the stage is now set for the grandest of finales in Lahore.

Scores
PAK 1st Inns 385 (Majid Khan 130, Zaheer Abbas 89, Imran Khan 48; Marshall 4-93)
WI 1st Inns 328 (Haynes 62, Richards 62, Greenidge 51)
PAK 2nd Inns 146 (Walsh 4-37)
WI 2nd Inns 207-7 (Weekes 54, Haynes 43)

WEST INDIES WON BY 3 WICKETS


Man of the Match: MD Marshall