Fleming late blast bursts Pak bubble

Fleming finished the day with 4-57 off 25 overs — three of the dismissals involved catches for Test debutant wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

Earlier, it looked as if Pakistan would make Australian captain Steve Waugh pay for sending them into bat with a big partnership between Inzamam (88) and Youhana (95).

Inzamam and Youhana put on 152 runs for the fourth wicket — three short of Pakistan’s best against Australia.

At close, Azhar Mahmood, who was sickened by a blow to the groin nearing stumps, was not out seven with Abdur Razzaq yet to score.

Youhana fell just five runs short of his first century against Australia when he edged Fleming to Gilchrist 15 minutes before stumps.

Youhana was crestfallen as West Indian umpire Eddie Nicholls raised his finger to end his innings and trudged back to the dressing room. The 25-year-old right-hander batted for 209 minutes and hit 16 fours.

Inzamam was again denied a coveted century against Australia when he was trapped lbw by Glenn McGrath for 88 about half an hour before stumps.

The burly right-handed No 4 was attempting to improve on his previous highest score of 97 against Australia at Peshawar last year.

So much in control of proceedings were Pakistan earlier that they were nearing their highest score on the ground of 291, set in the 1981-82 tour.

Supported by a positive 61 from experienced opener Saeed Anwar, Inzamam and Youhana blunted the Australian attack, which made little headway throughout much of the first day of the three-Test series.

So contained were McGrath, Damien Fleming and Shane Warne that skipper Waugh turned to bowling part-timers, Ricky Ponting, Greg Blewett and even himself at times.

Inzamam, a 56-Test batting mainstay of the Pakistan top order, thwarted the Australian attack for 255 minutes, clouting 15 boundaries off 199 balls.

Pakistan lost just one wicket in the middle session, Anwar out for no addition to his lunch score of 61 after putting on 71 runs with Inzamam for the third wicket.

SCOREBOARD

Pakistan (1st innings): Saeed Anwar c M Waugh b Warne 61, Mohammad Wasim c Gilchrist b Fleming 18, Ijaz Ahmed c Warne b Fleming 0, Inzamam-ul-Haq lbw McGrath 88, Yousuf Youhana c Gilchrist b Fleming 95, Azhar Mahmood batting 7, Mushtaq Ahmed c Gilchrist b Fleming 0, Abdur Razzaq batting 0; Extras (b4, lb2, nb5) 11.
Total (for 6 wickets, 92 overs) 280.
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-113, 4-265, 5-280, 6-280.
Bowling: McGrath 21-2-86-1, Fleming 25-5-57-4, Muller 13-4-42-0, Warne 22-9-54-1, Blewett 5-1-22-0, Ponting 5-1-12-0, S Waugh 1-0-1-0.

Healy given farewell

Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy got the sendoff denied by National selectors when he received an emotional farewell from his home-town crowd at the first cricket Test against Pakistan here today.

Healy, who announced his retirement from the game last week, missed out on ending his wonderful playing career before his Gabba fans as selectors moved to supplant the 35-year-old with Adam Gilchrist.

Selectors have been criticised for not giving Healy the opportunity to bow out fittingly to public acclaim for an 11-year Test career.

Healy, covered in green and gold streamers, drove around the Gabba ground today in an open convertible with his three children to receive the hero worship of his fans during the tea break on the opening day of the first Test.

The entire Pakistan team, led by captain Wasim Akram, came on to the field to applaud Healy as he drove past. He gave them a heart-felt thumbs-up for their respects.

As the Australian players came back on to the field after tea, long-time Test team-mate Michael Slater sprinted across the ground to shake Healy’s hand.