BRISBANE, NOV 6: A brilliant century by Michael Slater and a record opening stand with Greg Blewett helped Australia reply boldly and set eyes on a big first innings total in the first cricket Test against Pakistan at the Gabba today. After Pakistan was dismissed minutes before the lunch break for 367, Slater, 134 not out and Blewett, 77 not out, sent the much-vaunted pace-cum-spin attack on a leatherhunt as Australia closed the second day on 233 for no loss off 62 overs.On a Gabba pitch that has been unkind to the bowlers for the second successive day, Pakistan bowlers like their Australian counterparts erred in line and length and were deservingly punished.Slater, the pugnacious right-hander in his second stint as an opener, hit his customary century in the first Test of the season, totally overshadowing Blewett's presence as he took the Pakistani bowling by the scruff of the neck.Having survived at least five confident shouts for leg before wicket, two of them in the first over against WasimAkram, Slater first reached 4,000 runs on 22 and rode his luck to notch his 13th century in his 54th Test.After being dropped on 78, Slater ran a single as second slip Mohammad Wasim dropped him on 99 off Shoaib Akhtar to complete his century. He finished his run metres in front of the team dressing room as a relieved man, punching the air and kissing the crest on his helmet.SCOREBOARDPakistan (1st innings, 280-6 overnight): Saeed Anwar c Mark 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 c Slater b McGrath 13, Mushtaq Ahmed c Gilchrist b Fleming 0, Abdur Razzaq c Mark Waugh b Muller 11, Moin Khan run out 61, Wasim Akram c & b Muller 9, Shoaib Akhtar not out 0; Extras (lb2, nb5, b4): 11. Total (in 117.1 overs): 367.Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-42, 3-113, 4-265, 5-280, 6-280, 7-288, 8-334, 9-356Bowling: McGrath 28-4-116-2,Fleming 31-5-65-4, Miller 19-4-72-2, Warne 28.1-11-73-1, Blewtt 5-1-22-0, Ponting 5-1-12-0, S Waugh 1-0-1-0Australia (1st innings): Michael Slater batting 134, Greg Blewett batting 77. Extras (nb15,lb6, b1): 22. Total (for no loss in 62 overs): 233Bowling: Akram 12-1-26-0, Shoaib 13-0-62-0, Razzaq 9-2-31-0, Mahmood 12-2-31-0, Mushtaq 16-1-76-0.
