Pakistan Beat Australia By 3 Wickets

Pakistan was left tantalisingly close to ending its 15-year winless streak against Australia at stumps on the third day of the second and final Test at Headingley.Pakistan ended the third day on 3 for 140 - just 40 short of a victory target of 180 that would end a record run of 13 straight Test defeats by Australia stretching back to 1995.But despite Headingley being bathed in bright sunshine, the umpires took the players off at the scheduled close.Pakistan left-handed opener Imran Farhat, dropped on 4, made 67.Azhar Ali was 47 not out and Umar Akmal was on 2 as Pakistan opted not to request an extra half-hour play.Left-arm quick Doug Bollinger gave Pakistan a nasty jolt by taking two wickets for no runs in seven balls to remove both Farhat and fellow left-hander Umar Amin.It was a reminder to Pakistan, bowled out for 139, chasing a victory target of 176 in Sydney in January, of what can happen against Australia.However, Ali - in only his second Test - helped Farhat put on 110 for the second wicket as Pakistan's top order at last produced a significant partnership when it was most needed.The 28-year-old Farhat faced 95 balls with nine boundaries before he was yorked by Bollinger who then had Umar Amin caught behind for nought.Farhat told reporters Amin's exit ended any hopes Pakistan had of claiming an extra half hour in which to force victory."If Umar Amin had stayed in we would have stayed out for 30 minutes so it was a good decision by the management to come back in the morning because there's not going to be as much pressure," Farhat said.As for any bad memories of Sydney, he added: "We didn't think about that. We've forgotten that. The management and all the players said 'that's in the past'. The atmosphere is very positive."Australia's Steven Smith, who made a Test-best 77 earlier in the day, said his side had not given up hope."We'll see how it goes in the morning. We've got to believe in ourselves. Hopefully, we can get a few wickets and put a bit of pressure on."Pakistan were 0 for 18 when first slip Shane Watson dropped Farhat off Bollinger despite getting both hands to the ball.But Australia did remove in-form batsman Salman Butt, in his first match as Pakistan captain, when the left-handed opener, on 13, edged Ben Hilfenhaus to Michael Clarke at second slip.But captain Ricky Ponting was let down by his bowlers - Mitchell Johnson in particular, whose spray-gun accuracy continued to disappoint.Watson, who claimed a Test best 6 for 33 in Pakistan's first innings, allowed 10 runs off his fourth over, including two leg-glanced boundaries by Farhat to ill-directed balls outside leg stump.Smith battles
That Australia set Pakistan as many as they did was thanks mainly to Smith's dashing 77 in only his second Test.He was last man out in an Australia total of 349 - a vast improvement on its humbling first innings 88 - having come in when its lead was only 47..