Mohammad Asif claimed a career-best 6 for 41 as Pakistan sent Australia packing for their second lowest total batting first at the SCG and worst at home since 1996 on day one of the second Test here. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 127. Pakistan were 14 for no loss in reply,with Imran Farhat on nine and Salman Butt on three when bad light ended play early. Skipper Ricky Ponting was left to rue the decision to bat first on a green top,seaming pitch after rain delayed the coin toss until shortly before 2pm. Not since his infamous decision to send England into bat at Edgbaston in 2005 has Ponting called correctly and opted bowl. Only a 44-run eighth-wicket stand between Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz saved Australia from complete embarrassment although,as it stood,the humiliation ran deep enough. Sami,playing his first Test in more than two years following a stint in the unauthorised ICL,scythed through Australias top order with seven overs of express pace and prodigious movement to account for Phillip Hughes,Ponting and Shane Watson before the first drinks break. Later,Asif played his role to perfection when he ripped out the middle order,with only Mitchell Johnson (38) offering much resistance. An eleventh-hour inclusion in the Pakistani side after the withdrawal of Mohammad Aamer with a groin injury,Sami had Hughes,himself a replacement for the injured Simon Katich,dropped by Umar Akmal at backward point from his first delivery. But it was a sign of things to come and in his next over he lured the left-hander into a drive and the edge flew low to Faisal Iqbal at second slip. Sami then removed Ponting with his very next ball when the batsman attempted hook which flew straight to deep square leg and soon had Shane Watson edging a delivery that seamed away from him to wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal. Asif first got among the wickets when Michael Clarke was bowled through the gate by another delivery which changed direction after hitting the wicket.
