Pranksters Go Wild: Jackass 3-D

Trailer Review

There have been two wildly commercially successful "Jackass" movies. If the first one hadn't been commercially successful, "Jackass 2, " and now "Jackass 3D," would not have been made. These flicks are not somebody's artistic statement, unless that somebody is from a bizarro world. "Jackass-3D," is made to be more successful than the first two, because it was filmed in 3-D!

Quoting the hype, thus spate the producers, 'technologically advanced 3D cameras" were used to make the third flick in the series. In so many words, the producers are saying: Come and watch it, you idiots, and see stuff thrown at you from the screen. Why? Well, why not? What else was 3D made for? Seriously.

If you are one who feel the need to ask any of the following questions: What is so funny about watching somebody slip on a banana peel, or trip over their shoe laces, or doing what a carnival monkey does, or worse?, then you don't like the Internet prank videos, and the Jackass movies aren't for you. Which are the Internet prank videos on mega-steroids, cranked up to the nth power. The Jackass movies are for people who like to watch Internet pranks, and want to watch them on the big screen. And frankly, are for folks who don't ask a lot of questions, are for folks who go to the movies to react to what they see on the screen in a primal way, and are not for folks who go to the movies to think, which is an excellent reason for going to the movies, and it is alright to go to the movies and not have to think. Movies are for entertainment too, for sitting back and letting ones inner kid out to have a scream of laughter.

If the trailer "Jackass 3-D," is any indication of how the flick's gonna be, the pranksters are going for the big scream! The belly shout and the belly giggle too, by showing funnier, stupider visual jokes, scenes of people doing very idiotic things --and dangerous stunts.

There's a warning at the end of the trailer to all the jackass wannabes, that the flick is the product of the real professional jackasses, dudes who get paid to do dangerously stupid things in movies, dudes who are called, stunt men. The producers, like wary uncles warning their little brat nephews and nieces, who are watching their every move -- Don't you do this, just come to the flick house and watch us act like jackasses. The producers warn their jackass fans and their fans dumb little buddies not to attempt anything from the movie, or in the trailer.

The trailer is an Internet pranks video scream. Excellent trailer. should help haul the latest Jackass flick to success.

A Flight of the Conchords Primer

Despite their tongue-in-cheek self-description, New Zealand's Flight of the Conchords truly is their country's most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo. They've been churning out loving parodies of various musical styles for years, a talent they got to share with their widest audience yet during their self-titled, two-season HBO series. For those who have never seen Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement do what they do best, here's a quick primer.

Entry Level: Proper Parody

The best place to start with Flight of the Conchords is with their most obvious genre parody material. Using little more than two guitars, the boys have been able to mimic some of the most distinct sounds in pop with a mix of satire and true appreciation. One of their early songs, "Bowie" (first found on their debut album Folk the World Tour), runs through a straight-up parody of several classic David Bowie songs, most noticeably "Space Oddity". When the band put together a music video for "Bowie" during the first season of the HBO series, they went even farther by donning a number of Bowie's flamboyant costumes and doing a fairly apt re-imagining of Bowie's own videos. "Inner City Pressure" on Flight of Conchords' self-titled LP plugs into the cool, rhythmic styles of early Pet Shop Boys records, especially the hit single "West End Girls". Also on the album is the band's second rap parody, "Mutha'uckas", which makes fun of the excessive censorship applied to profanity-laden gangsta rap. Perhaps the most impressive (and catchy) parody is the made-for-TV track "Sugalumps", a bald-faced lampoon of the Black Eyed Peas song "My Humps".

 

Intermediate: Story Songs

Clement and McKenzie are both very gifted comedy writers, combining dry wit with subtly goofy absurdity to make story songs that are both light and potent. A lot of their best comic narratives came out of their popular BBC radio program. A clear fan favorite is "Bus Driver's Song", a jaunty folk tune framed as the bizarre rambling of a lovelorn tour bus driver in New Zealand. "Albi" is a hilarious faux-children's song about a racist dragon and the badly burnt little boy who helps him see the error of his ways. An song from early in Season 2 of the HBO show, "You Don't Have To Be A Prostitute", requires watching the episode to fully appreciate the humor of the lyrics but it still stands up well on its own as a nod to "Roxanne" by The Police.

 

Advanced: Tunes Above Laughs

Though none of Flight of the Conchords' songs are exactly serious, some of them are more about the music than the jokes in the lyrics. "Angels" may be a song about celestial beings getting ribald but it's still gorgeous and has a stunning conclusion. "Business Time" is a gut-busting track of romantic ineptitude, though its real draw is its infectious chorus and funky guitar riffs. "Fashion is Danger" is the band's only recorded New Wave song and I doubt anyone at a dance club 80's night would be able to pick it out from the non-parody tracks of the period. FotC's most perfect pop song has to be "Carol Brown (stick around)", a lush ditty chronicling Jemaine's many, many break-ups with the aid of chamber pop instrumentation and lovely backing vocals from a number of excellent female singers including Alison Sudal of A Fine Frenzy, indie journeywoman Inara George and Australian singer-songwriter Sia Furler. Combined with its Michel Gondry directed video, "Carol Brown" is the best Flight of the Conchords have ever done.

What do you do when life dishes you a crap sandwich?

If I believed in biblical things, I would say that this is the time of Job in my life, but on a much-smaller scale. Maybe I am operating under the principle of Murphy’s Law, which states that, “Everything that can go wrong will go wrong.” I’ve decided to take a cautiously optimistic approach to life and my spell of minor troubles and believe that if the universe is indeed dishing me a few too many sides of bad luck, I’m going to take it as a semi-positive sign and believe that at least I am somewhat important- being totally ignored by the Fates would be worse, wouldn’t it?

My troubles are the same as everyone else’s- the only difference is that they all came at once. My hard drive unceremoniously crashed on my computer, a week later my e-mail was hacked, my car decided to make enough funny noises that I was reduced to taking  public transportation until I could afford to get it fixed, my wallet got stolen by a seemingly friendly backpacker, and when I got angry about the BS, someone close to me started judging me a little harshly- I wasn’t dead, I still had all my working parts, and I wasn’t on death’s door, so what could possibly be the problem?

I don’t know what my problem is- I used to be happy- things used to run a little more smoothly, and I was a generally happy person. I’m not necessarily unhappy now- just going through the normal bullshit that is life and getting a little aggravated sometimes.

Thankfully, I haven’t yet taken a total turn to the Dark Side yet- I’m still smart enough to listen to Yoda when I can decipher his poor grammar. I’m not bitter yet, either. Maybe I’m not old enough yet- I’ve had enough bad things happen to me and have lost enough of myself to mourn, but whenever I feel the bitterness creeping out, I try to turn kill it off fast.

What do you do when the crap starts hitting the fan? Do you duck and run for cover? Do you yell at the Life, The Universe, and Everything (thanks Douglas Adams) or do you pretend that nothing is wrong and wait until your internal organs combust one day? Do you tell your friends and neighbors what’s really going on as you fake a smile throughout your day? If you need a place to vent, I suggest ranting online. Just don’t get fired like the Waitress who got a bad tip.

Pakistan vs. Australia, MCC Spirit of Cricket, 2nd Test, Day 4

So you'd think a simple matter of 40 runs to get with 7 wickets in hand would be, well, simple. If anything, you might lose one, maybe two batsmen, but eventually get over the line without much drama. But Australia and Pakistan proved there was one more twist in the tale of a viciously back-and-forth Test match, as the Aussies almost rendered their first innings debacle moot, while Pakistan held on by the skin of their teeth to record their first Test victory over Australia in 15 years.

 

Resuming at 140/3, Azhar Ali got to his maiden Test 50 in the second over of the day, but edged a good away-moving delivery from Doug Bollinger behind the next ball. The Aussies smelled blood, with acrobatic fielding, vociferous appeals and sharp bowling putting pressure on the nervous batsmen. Lots of balls missed the outside (and sometimes the inside edges), and there were more than a few head-in-hand moments as the Pakistani batsmen edged deliveries through gaps in the slip cordon for 4. An edge from Umar Akmal off Ben Hilfenhaus went to Tim Paine, and Pakistan found themselves at 150/5. Suddenly, the 30 runs for victory seemed further away than expected.

 

With day 4 not going as expected, Pakistan raced to 13 runs in 6 overs in that passage of play. They kept edging forward, before Marcus North took a stunning catch at extra cover to get rid of Shoaib Malik off Ben Hilfenhaus for 10, and Pakistan were now 161/6 - only 19 left for victory, but Australia were into the tail. Kamran Akmal may not top any "best wicketkeepers" lists, but his three boundaries made him the most popular person in Pakistan as he brought the required number of runs into the single digits. But then - believe it or not, more drama, as he slashed a Mitchell Johnson delivery to gully, where Michael Hussey took a great catch. Or did he? Hussey was convinced the catch was clean, but Akmal stood his ground, and the TV replays proved inconclusive. The benefit of the doubt went to the batsmen, and Australia rued a major chance going a-begging. An edged 4 from Mohammed Asif brought the scores level, before a blinding catch from - you guessed it, Michael Hussey, from the bat of - yep, Kamran Akmal, off the bowling of - yep, again, Mitchell Johnon resulted in the 7th Pakistani wicket falling, with only 1 run left to score. It fell to Umar Gul to crash his first ball through the covers to cue the triumphant - and incredibly relieved - scenes from Pakistan, as they leveled the 2-game series.

 

So one of the most interesting and memorable Test matches in recent times came to an end. Not too many teams could reduce Australia to 88 all out in the first innings, and then defeat them in four days, and still come dangerously close to losing the game. At best, this game was all about Australia being Australia - never, ever, giving up - and Pakistan being Pakistan - never, ever being predictable. But the end result reads that Pakistan recorded their first Test victory over Australia since 1995, and their first in thirteen Tests. Australia's disappointing tour of England (3-2 against England, 0-2 against Pakistan in the Twenty20s and 1-1 in the Tests) comes to an end, and Ricky Ponting must surely be thinking that his quest to defend the World Cup and regain the Ashes just became a little more difficult.

 

As a side note, Rudi "Slow Death" Koertzen retired at the end of this game, bringing to an end a career that spanned 106 Tests, a record 209 ODIs and 14 Twenty20 internationals. He leaves the game as one of the most respected and iconic umpires, his characteristic - what Cricinfo called "Dalek-like" - slow signal of dismissal giving batsmen, bowlers, captains, commentators and crowds the world over many heart attacks. He will be sorely missed - but, dare I say, not by too many batsmen.

 

Pakistan vs. Australia, MCC Spirit of Cricket, 2nd Test, Day 4

So you'd think a simple matter of 40 runs to get with 7 wickets in hand would be, well, simple. If anything, you might lose one, maybe two batsmen, but eventually get over the line without much drama. But Australia and Pakistan proved there was one more twist in the tale of a viciously back-and-forth Test match, as the Aussies almost rendered their first innings debacle moot, while Pakistan held on by the skin of their teeth to record their first Test victory over Australia in 15 years.

 

Resuming at 140/3, Azhar Ali got to his maiden Test 50 in the second over of the day, but edged a good away-moving delivery from Doug Bollinger behind the next ball. The Aussies smelled blood, with acrobatic fielding, vociferous appeals and sharp bowling putting pressure on the nervous batsmen. Lots of balls missed the outside (and sometimes the inside edges), and there were more than a few head-in-hand moments as the Pakistani batsmen edged deliveries through gaps in the slip cordon for 4. An edge from Umar Akmal off Ben Hilfenhaus went to Tim Paine, and Pakistan found themselves at 150/5. Suddenly, the 30 runs for victory seemed further away than expected.

 

With day 4 not going as expected, Pakistan raced to 13 runs in 6 overs in that passage of play. They kept edging forward, before Marcus North took a stunning catch at extra cover to get rid of Shoaib Malik off Ben Hilfenhaus for 10, and Pakistan were now 161/6 - only 19 left for victory, but Australia were into the tail. Kamran Akmal may not top any "best wicketkeepers" lists, but his three boundaries made him the most popular person in Pakistan as he brought the required number of runs into the single digits. But then - believe it or not, more drama, as he slashed a Mitchell Johnson delivery to gully, where Michael Hussey took a great catch. Or did he? Hussey was convinced the catch was clean, but Akmal stood his ground, and the TV replays proved inconclusive. The benefit of the doubt went to the batsmen, and Australia rued a major chance going a-begging. An edged 4 from Mohammed Asif brought the scores level, before a blinding catch from - you guessed it, Michael Hussey, from the bat of - yep, Kamran Akmal, off the bowling of - yep, again, Mitchell Johnon resulted in the 7th Pakistani wicket falling, with only 1 run left to score. It fell to Umar Gul to crash his first ball through the covers to cue the triumphant - and incredibly relieved - scenes from Pakistan, as they leveled the 2-game series.

 

So one of the most interesting and memorable Test matches in recent times came to an end. Not too many teams could reduce Australia to 88 all out in the first innings, and then defeat them in four days, and still come dangerously close to losing the game. At best, this game was all about Australia being Australia - never, ever, giving up - and Pakistan being Pakistan - never, ever being predictable. But the end result reads that Pakistan recorded their first Test victory over Australia since 1995, and their first in thirteen Tests. Australia's disappointing tour of England (3-2 against England, 0-2 against Pakistan in the Twenty20s and 1-1 in the Tests) comes to an end, and Ricky Ponting must surely be thinking that his quest to defend the World Cup and regain the Ashes just became a little more difficult.

 

As a side note, Rudi "Slow Death" Koertzen retired at the end of this game, bringing to an end a career that spanned 106 Tests, a record 209 ODIs and 14 Twenty20 internationals. He leaves the game as one of the most respected and iconic umpires, his characteristic - what Cricinfo called "Dalek-like" - slow signal of dismissal giving batsmen, bowlers, captains, commentators and crowds the world over many heart attacks. He will be sorely missed - but, dare I say, not by too many batsmen.

 

Pakistan vs. Australia, MCC Spirit of Cricket, 2nd Test, Day 3

 After the embarrassment (and shock) of collapsing to 88 all out on the first day of the Test, Australia did well to hold Pakistan to 258, and then stage a recovery of their own, finishing day 2 on 136/2. Ricky Ponting led the counter-attack with a tough 61, but his day 3 got off to a bad start, edging Mohammed Aamer behind off a loose stroke, having added just 5 to his overnight total. Australia 145/3, trailing by only 25, but they would have wanted Ponting to have stuck around for much longer. Aamer then accounted for Michael Hussey, who Pakistan will never get tired of dismissing, for just 8, and Australia were in real trouble, 4 wickets down and still 12 runs behind. Marcus North was the next to go for 0, courtesy Aamer again, as Australia were in danger of being dismissed twice inside three days - 164-5, trailing by 6 runs.

 

Tim Paine and a gutsy 50 from Michael Clarke took Australia over the deficit. They got Australia to 217, before Clarke was squared up by an exceptional Mohammed Asif delivery that went to Kamral Akmal behind the stumps, and Australia found themselves teetering again. The 53-run partnership between Paine and Clarke needed to have lasted much longer, as Australia lead by only 47, with four wickets left. Paine lasted only 15 more runs, falling to Umar Gul off a loose shot when he looked well set on 33, and Australia were in serious trouble at 246/6, ahead by just 76. Asif got rid of Mitchell Johnson, whose stock has declined rather drastically recently, for just 12, as Australia slumped to 283/8, leading by 113. But bowling with the new ball, Ben Hilfenhaus and the unorthodox (and surprisingly clean) hitting of Steven Smith pushed Australia over 300, taking the lead over 150. Hilfenhaus eventually fell to Danish Kaneria for a quick 17, but Smith surprised everybody by bringing up his maiden Test 50, off only 79 balls. To further seal his authority, he slammed two gigantic 6s off Kaneria's bowling in consecutive balls, but fell to an Umar Gul slower delivery for 77 off just 100 balls (nine 4s and two 6s). Australia eventually were all out for 349, giving Pakistan a target of 180 to win the second Test and square the series.

 

Only Pakistan could look at 180 in seven sessions and wonder about defeat, and it would have certainly seemed that way had Shane Watson at first slip had held onto an edge from Imran Farhat in only the 3rd over, when Pakistan were just 8. As it was, the straightforward chance was grassed. But Australia struck back soon after, Ben Hilfenhaus removing Salman Butt for 13, to leave Pakistan at 27/1. Azhar Ali and Farhat brought the 100 up for Pakistan, frustrating every attempt by Ricky Ponting to unsettle them. Fathat eventually fell to a brilliant yorker by Doug Bollinger for 67, and then got Umar Amin for a duck in his next over, and Pakistan were suddenly 140/3 - only 40 runs away from victory, but tightening their grip on defeat. Not wanting to risk any more excitement, the Pakistani batsmen accepted the umpire's offer of the light, even though the sun was shining brightly at Headingly. Ponting wanted to play on, but eventually lead his team off the ground, knowing that despite their legendary collapse on day 1, they stood a surprisingly decent chance of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

If this were any other team in the world, it would be a simple case of going through the motions - come back the next day, knock the remaining 40 runs off, shake hands with Ponting, make the speeches, etcetera, etcetera. But with Pakistan, the writing on the wall is temporary, at best, and misleading, at worst. If they failed to score 180, it wouldn't have been the first time their batsmen capitulated with winning all but assured. Steven Smith's blazing 77 gave Australia a chance, but Shane Watson dropping Imran Farhat (who went on to add 59 more runs) will take lots of therapy to overcome. While all the money in the world couldn't have bought Pakistan any victories when they toured Australia earlier in the year, at the end of day 3 in Headingly, they stand only 40 runs away from exorcising an underworld of demons. However, they are brittle on their best day and lost two quick wickets - and Australia have a habit for rising from the ashes when all looked lost. 

Away We Go

Going into this movie, I held high expectations—and I was not disappointed in the least. Comical, romantic, and light without being frivolous, Away We Go is a sweetly satisfying film about a young couple expecting their first child. After discovering that the father’s parents are moving out of country, they no longer have ties to their community and decide to travel across the country, searching for the perfect place to raise a family. (Spoilers ahead.)

The couple is, of course, adorable. Played by Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski, Verona and Burt have personalities, jobs, and quirks that match their unconventional names. Verona is a talented artist, a bit hippie-looking without being obnoxious, and is quickly scoffed at for appearing to be further along in her pregnancy than she is. (The airport attendants don’t believe that she’s not yet in her third trimester at one point and do not allow her to travel.) Burt is a funny, nerdy-in-a-sweet-way guy who sells some type of insurance over the phone. Both work primarily from home, giving them the opportunity to travel across the country in search of the perfect place to raise a family. (Ironically, the best place they find—before the one they decide on, that is—is in Canada.)

The scene starts on a very comedic, bursting-laugh-out-loud funny note where Burt is about to perform oral sex (beneath a sheet) on Verona and notes that her scent is different—and postulates that perhaps it’s because she’s pregnant. That alone should let you know the tone of this quirky, moving film. As they travel across the nation, we get to meet their friends and family—some of whom are welcoming and heartwarming, some of whom are simply insane, and some who make you wonder what on earth they were smoking when they decided to have children. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Catherine O’Hara, Jeff Daniels, and Allison Janney all fulfill the roles of the supporting cast brilliantly. As the couple experiences one crazy adventure—or misadventure—after another, they end up coming full circle home to where Verona grew up.

She has slowly dealt with the death of her parents throughout the film—it does have its serious moments, after all; it is a touching movie, too—and when we see the house she grew up in, the backyard, and put it together with the couple we’ve met throughout the movie, we discover along with them how perfect it is for their small family. It’s a wonderful, enjoyable movie—not too sappy or romantic while still delivering enough of both factors to make viewers sigh happily while the credits roll. 

Fiction Runs On Dead Naked Ladies

Have you ever noticed the preponderance of dead naked ladies in fiction?  I'm talking television, movies, books, graphic novels, the whole shebang.  If it's aimed at adults, it probably has a dead naked lady in it.  This goes extra for any work of mystery or suspense.

Just as a random example, where would CSI and all its clones be without dead naked ladies?  I wonder what CSI: Miami would look like, if its producers decided to challenge the writing staff by banning dead naked ladies from the scripts.

I began pondering this recently as I was reading Stieg Larsson's runaway global bestseller The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.  What started out as a fairly intriguing mystery at one point (not to give anything away) suddenly devolves into a collection of dead naked ladies.  How disappointing.

We get to see how it is that they came to be dead and naked, of course.  You always do.  It's not enough to just say "this lady is dead and naked," you have to get the long lush panning shot across the scene.  If not a flashback to the actual events.  This kind of titillation is key to the use of dead naked ladies in fiction.

As a general rule, the dead naked lady probably attempted to fight back, but was ultimately overpowered by her attacker.  His flesh will be found beneath her fingernails; most likely, this is how he will be caught.  

Why is it always the fingernails?  It's never her car keys or the edge of her daily planner.  Much less - heaven forbid - the bruised skin of her knuckles.  Nope, always the fingernails.  Dead naked ladies never keep their fingernails trimmed short.  It's like one big weak kitten catfight out there.  Always with the scratching.  

Just once I wish we'd find a dead naked lady who clocked her killer with a left hook.

Or hey, how about NO dead naked ladies?  That's a thought, eh?  I mean, the world is full of mysteries.  Mysteries aching to be solved.  Mysteries in which women are not killed in order to further the plot.  Their dead naked bodies shoveled into the engine of the fiction machine, like coal being shoveled into the boiler of a locomotive.

I just spent about an hour staring into space, racking my brains to think of mystery fiction that doesn't have dead naked ladies in it.  Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes to mind.  A lot of episodes of "Burn Notice" don't have dead naked ladies.  Um… yeah, I'm drawing a blank!

A subset of this question is, why are the dead naked ladies almost always young, white, and pretty?  Yes, I ask this with tongue firmly planted in cheek.  

The dead naked lady who drives the plot is never a middle-aged portly Indian woman, or an elderly black woman with a skin condition.  City morgues are chock full of the corpses of women who are not young, white, or pretty, but I guess no one cares enough about them to investigate their deaths.

Photo credit: Flickr/alancleaver_2000

Sacramento, California - Alive with Musicals!

The capitol city of Sacramento, California comes alive during the summer with the California Musical Theater and Music Circus back to back musical productions.

One of my personal favorites Oklahoma! is currently playing (July 27 - August 1).

More than a groundbreaking musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!” celebrates the American pioneer spirit.  Independent, warm-hearted women and befuddled, hard-headed men – rugged ranchers and dogged farmers – on one of the last American frontiers as it approaches statehood.  From the beginning Rodgers and Hammerstein classics have been the cornerstone of a Music Circus summer; For our 60th season, we’re proud to present perhaps the most truly American work of the American musical theatre.

 You can catch the show at the Wells Fargo Pavilion 1419 H Street, Sacramento, CA, 95184

Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. Based on "Green Grow the Lilacs" by Lynn Riggs.

If you miss Oklahoma! be sure to check out “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” Aug. 3-8 “Funny Girl,” Aug. 10-15 “The Marvelous Wonderettes” Aug. 17-22 and “42nd Street” Aug. 24-29

Pakistan vs. Australia, MCC Spirit of Cricket, 2nd Test, Day 2

Pakistan started day 2 with 3 wickets down and 60 runs ahead. With a day to bury the demons of their 88-all out debacle, Australia clawed back early - Mitchell Johnson removed the dangerous Umar Akmal only 5 overs into the day for just 20, leaving Pakistan at 171/4. Umar Amin didn't last much longer, ducking a Ben Hilfenhaus bouncer but leaving his bat in the air. The ball clipped the exposed bat and gently looped to square leg, where Marcus North took one of the easier catches of his career. Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik took Pakistan to lunch (with Mike Hussey dropping a tough, but catchable chance off Kamran Akmal) at 218/5, a lead of 130.

 

Resuming play, Akmal hit Shane Watson for 4 for the first ball after lunch. But Watson had his revenge, inducing an edge from Akmal to Marcus North at first slip, then trapped a padding-up Mohammed Aamer first ball. Hawk-Eye guessed that the ball would have missed the off-stump, evening out the similar dismissal of Michael Hussey the previous day. Watson had figures of 8-3-16-4, and Pakistan slipped from a cautiously stable 218/5 to a weak 222/7. Watson picked up his 5th wicket (for a career-best, to follow from his 5-for in the previous Test match) by bowling Umar Gul for a duck. Pakistan 224/8, a lead of just 136. Much depended on Shoaib Malik, but he became Watson's 6th wicket, caught behind for 28 (234/9). The last-wicket pair of Danish Kaneria and Mohammed Asif resisted, putting on a 30-run partnership with some tail-end batting (ugly, but effective). The fun ended when Kaneria deemed run out after Asif had sent him back to a ball that fell an inch short of mid-off and both batsmen decided to take a run after the throw had broken the stumps. Pakistan ended at 258 all out, a lead of 170, with Shane Watson taking 6 wickets and Salman Butt's 45 on day 1 being the highest score.

 

A score of 258 won't win you too many Tests, but a lead of 170 is harder to argue with. It got harder for Australia when Simon Katich fell to Mohammed Aamer, bowled around his legs (again) for 11. It was the first time in 10 Test matches that Katich failed to make a half century, and Australia lost their first wicket still 155 runs in the hole. Ricky Ponting survived two massive appeals for LBW the first two balls he faced, with Hawk-Eye predicting that the first was on-target. Ponting made good of the reprieve with Shane Watson, nudging singles until Watson chopped an innocuous Umar Amin delivery onto his stumps for 24. Australia 55/2, still trailing by 115. Ponting scored his 12,000th Test run (second on the all-time list, behind Sachin Tendulkar), and brought up his 52nd Test 50 as Australia passed 100. Stumps were declared shortly after, with Ponting on 60*, Michael Clarke on 31*, and Australia at 136/2, trailing by 34.

 

Pakistan will be disappointed that their Watto-triggered batting collapse prevented them from sealing the deal in their first innings - but then again, with Pakistan, no one should be too surprised. Without being too harsh, only they could reduce Australia to 88 all out in the first innings and still not feel confident of victory. With Ponting looking good, Clarke at the crease and Michael Hussey to come, Pakistan know they have long fight ahead of them to compensate for their batting failure. Then again, not too many teams can say they knocked Australia down for 88. Can lightning strike twice?

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