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PAKISTAN PRESS SELF-DESTRUCT BUTTON

ABOVE: Ricky Ponting

15th January 2010

Pakistan's ability to self-destruct came to the fore again as opener Salman Butt undermined their reply to Australia's mammoth first innings total with two comical run-outs in the final Test in Hobart.

The tourists were already up against it after Australia declared on 519 for eight - captain Ricky Ponting hitting 209 and his deputy Michael Clarke chipping in with 166 - but their hopes of posting a solid response were hit when they slumped to 94 for four at stumps on day two.

Butt was largely responsible after being involved in the dismissals of skipper Mohammad Yousuf and Umar Akmal.

The first came after Yousuf played a superb off-drive off Doug Bollinger and after running two called for a legitimate and easily obtainable third, but despite the fact Yousuf was running to the danger end, Butt refused to run at the non-striker's end leaving his captain stranded.

Incredibly Butt refused to run when again at the non-striker's end just a few overs later to leave teenage sensation Umar also stranded as the visitors' running between the wickets matched their woeful catching attempts during Australia's innings.

The run-outs came after Peter Siddle had dismissed Imran Farhat (38) and Khurram Manzoor (nought) to leave Pakistan reeling. They ended the day needing another 226 runs just to avoid the follow-on.

Resuming on 302 for three Ponting and Clarke, having come together with Australia precariously placed at 71 for three, continued to humiliate the Pakistan bowlers as they eventually put on 352 for the fourth wicket before Clarke was bowled by leg spinner Danish Kaneria shortly after lunch without offering a shot.

Ponting went on to make 209, his third-highest Test score, before young paceman Mohammad Aamer finally claimed his wicket having been responsible for dropping the local hero on day one before he had even scored.

Incredibly Pakistan missed yet another chance to get rid of Ponting with another dropped catch in the first session. That came when Ponting was on 167 after the Tasmanian launched a full-blooded cover drive off Danish Kaneria which went straight through the hands of Farhat at cover.

But even after they finally removed Ponting and Clarke, the pain continued for Pakistan as Brad Haddin - who was dropped by new keeper Sarfraz Ahmed on 19 to take the tourists' total number of dropped catches for the series to 16 - made a quickfire 41 off just 34 balls.