Pakistan stage fightback

Shoaib's electric pace proved too much for Australia

First Test, Colombo, day three: Australia 467 & 127 (at close); Pakistan 279

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Shoaib Akhtar produced a destructive spell of fast bowling to revive Pakistan's hopes of victory in Sri Lanka.

They need 316 to win after bowling out Australia in just 39.5 overs in their second innings, but were unable to make a start as rain washed out the final session of play.

Shoaib took five for 21, including the wickets of Ricky Ponting and Steve and Mark Waugh, in the same over, the brothers lasting a combined total of three balls.

Their dual failure increases the pressure on the twins, who need to find form in the three-Test series to make certain of their places for the forthcoming Ashes encounter with England.

It was a tremendous fightback by Pakistan, who lost their last five wickets for 60 earlier in the day as leg-spinner Shane Warne returned figures of seven for 94 to take his career total to 455.

Warne completed a rout with Shoaib's wicket

They resumed on 210 for five but Warne was quickly into the action, removing Faisal Iqbal for 83 to end a 103-run stand with Rashid Latif, thanks to Mark Waugh's brilliant one-handed catch.

Saqlain Mushtaq was next to go when he was lbw for one, but Latif was given two let-offs when he was dropped on 36 and 57 by Ricky Ponting and Hayden.

Warne's fifth wicket arrived with the score on 267 when Pakistan captain Waqar Younis was given out lbw for 14.

Photo gallery: Day three highlights

Latif finally departed seven runs later to a catch by Damien Martyn after hitting 11 fours in his 66 and Warne wrapped things up by dismissing Shoaib for five.

Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden encountered few serious problems as they took Australia to 45 for no wicket at lunch.

Langer was caught off Saqlain for 25 early in the afternoon session, but Australia's problems really began when Ricky Ponting wafted at a ball from Shoaib and was bowled for seven.

Mark Waugh was beaten all ends up

Four wickets went down without addition as Mark Waugh was beaten for pace first ball and although his brother prevented the hat-trick, the next delivery trapped him lbw.

The decline continued as Hayden fell to Saqlain's off-spin for 34 and Shoaib then added the wickets of Adam Gilchrist and Warne to leave Australia on 89 for seven.

Brett Lee made 12 before becoming Saqlain's third victim and Mohammad Sami struck by dismissing Jason Gillespie after replacing Shoaib in the attack.

Damien Martyn and last man Glenn McGrath extended the lead past 300, but Martyn (20) was eventually removed by Saqlain to give him figures of four for 46.

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Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (capt), Taufiq Umar, Imran Nazir, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Abdul Razzaq, Rashid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammmad Sami.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (WIs), Srinivas Venkataraghvan (Ind) Match referee: Clive Lloyd (WIs).