Wasim Akram's feat of becoming the first bowler to take 400 wickets in one-day internationals proved to be the only bright point for Pakistan during their 81-run defeat by Australia in their tri-nation tournament day-nighter in Sydney.
Akram has set his sights on narrowing the gap behind Kapil Dev in Test wickets, though time is running out for Pakistan's captain.
Akram, a diabetic at the age of 32, still needs 51 wickets to catch Kapil Dev's 434, and he lies fifth behind Dev, Richard Hadlee, Courtney Walsh and Ian Botham.
In Sydney, Pakistan made a promising start in pursuit of Australia's 286, of which Michael Bevan made 77, flying to 100 in only 12.1 overs for the loss of two wickets.
However, they subsided to 205 all out as Australia's leg-spinner Stuart MacGill engineered a middle-order collapse on his way to taking four for 19 in 10 overs.
Akram, a left-arm fast bowler, claimed Damien Martyn as his 400th victim, his third wicket of the innings. He said: "I am still some wickets away in the Tests but I know I can get there if nothing drastic happens."
� The Electronic Telegraph |
