Colombo: Pakistani tearaway Shoaib Akhtar grabbed five wickets in 15 balls to cause a dramatic Australian collapse in the first Test on Saturday.

Australia, comfortably placed at 74 for 1 in its second knock, slipped to 89 for seven before being shot out for 127 in 39.5 overs at tea on the third day.

Set a victory target of 316, Pakistan will begin its chase on Sunday morning after rain washed out the entire last session.

Earlier, leg spinner Shane Warne took 7 for 94 but failed to prevent Pakistan from saving the follow-on in the morning session. Starting the day at 210 for 5, still needing 58 to make Australia bat again, Pakistan survived an anxious first hour before being all out for 279 in its first innings.

Akhtar, nicknamed the 'Rawalpindi Express', sliced through the middle-order in a sensational burst that included removing the under-pressure Waugh twins for zeroes in three deliveries.

Akhtar finished with five for 21 from eight overs, while off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq claimed four for 46. "I will consider this my best bowling only if Pakistan wins the match," Akhtar said.

"I have had problems with my rhythm and injuries in the past, but it was just perfect today. I want to be the best against the best."

There was no hint of the drama to follow when Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting negotiated both pace and spin to lift Australia to 74 for 1 midway through the post- lunch period.

Working up lightening speed, Akhtar began the destruction by forcing first-innings centurion Ponting to play onto his stumps after making seven. Mark Waugh, battling to retain his place in the Test team, went first ball as Akhtar's yorker crashed into his wicket.

Captain Steve Waugh barely survived the hat-trick delivery, the edge missing his stumps by a whisker, but could not escape the next which crashed into his pads.

A fourth wicket fell at the same total of 74 as Hayden (34) was given out caught at silly point off Saqlain Mushtaq by Indian umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan.

As Hayden stood his ground, television replays indicated the ball may have gone off the batsman's forearm instead of the gloves. But there was no respite for the Aussies at the other end as Akhtar clean bowled Adam Gilchrist for five and trapped Shane Warne leg before for zero.

Brett Lee, who had hit batsman Akhtar on the helmet with a bouncer in the morning, was greeted by a dangerous full toss, which earned the bowler a warning from umpire Steve Bucknor.

Warne, who picked up all five wickets of the morning, claimed his 22nd haul of five or more wickets in an innings.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Pak avoids follow on despite Warne's 7-wicket haul