Nervous Pakistan complete victory

LEEDS, England (AP):

Pakistan beat Australia in a Test for the first time since 1995 after winning by three wickets in an excruciatingly tense finish yesterday to level the two-match series at 1-1.

Imran Farhat was Pakistan's top scorer with 67 while Azhar Ali scored 51 from 107 balls with six fours at Headingley.

Ben Hilfenhaus was Australia's most potent bowler with 3-39, while Doug Bollinger finished with 3-53 after a nerve-shredding morning session.

"To win against the world's best is always an achievement," Pakistan captain Salman Butt said. "We would have loved to have done it in front of our home crowd, but we need to tell them that we remember them and we hope we will be playing in front of them soon.

"It's a new beginning for Pakistan cricket, and especially for a young side."

Australia captain Ricky Ponting admitted his side had been struggling ever since it was bowled out for 88 on day one, having won the toss and decided to bat.

"Looking back, we were surprised how much it swung on that first day," Ponting said. "We were definitely playing catch-up from the start. They were probably the most difficult conditions any of us has ever batted in. But we had an opportunity yesterday to bring ourselves back into the game and, if we're being harsh on ourselves, we probably let an opportunity slip in the second innings."

Umpire Rudi Koertzen, officiating in his 108th and final Test before retiring, was given a guard of honour by the players as he walked on to the field.

It was the last peaceful action of the morning as Pakistan, starting day four on 140-3, lost six wickets for 42 runs.

If Australia were to stand a realistic chance, it needed Bollinger to fire early and the initial signs were discouraging, as his third delivery was a full toss that Ali smashed through the covers for four, bringing up his first Test 50.

However, Bollinger's next ball tempted Ali into a rash prod outside off stump and he was caught behind by Tim Paine.

Umar Akmal had already edged Hilfenhaus for four through the slips when he was caught behind off the same bowler for eight, leaving Pakistan five wickets down with 30 runs still needed.

Having lost 4-13 in 53 balls, Pakistan looked increasingly jittery, particularly when Bollinger made loud but vain appeals from successive deliveries at the end of the 43rd over.

Australia were also affected by nerves, however, with Michael Clarke dropping Shoaib Malik at second slip after he nicked a ball from Bollinger in the 45th over, when Malik was on four.

Marcus North then produced a sensational catch to remove Malik for 10 off Hilfenhaus an over later, but a beautiful cover drive from Kamran Akmal off Bollinger in the next over reduced the target to 15.