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Brisbane, Nov 8: Out of adversity came the response for which all Pakistan must have longed. But whether the response will be prolonged enough to save the first Test only the final day will tell.

The task was enormous enough for Pakistan even at the commencement of their second innings, having conceded a mammoth 208 run lead, but after disastrously losing 3 for 37, it called for a colossal concerted effort from Pakistan's remaining specialist batsmen to bat long enough to get out of this match.

The timely intervention - from Pakistan's point of view - by Queensland incessant tropical rain which prevented any play after tea, may yet have its say in the outcome of this match. In any case, when Pakistan resume their second innings it will have to be staunch back-to-the-wall stuff from the six remaining batsmen for the duration of near enough two sessions of play to save the match.

The predicament is of their own making. Having let Australia do virtually as they pleased with Pakistan's bowling for nearly two days, Pakistan showed no urgency to wrap up the innings with the last pair in. They seemed to lack attitude and gave the impression of being disorganised in the field. It took Pakistan 38 minutes to remove the last wicket but worse still, they gave away as many as 60 runs.

Shane Warne thoroughly enjoyed swinging his bat for 4 sixes off Mushtaq Ahmed, 3 of them in one over and as all of them were struck in the area between long-on and wide mid-wicket, one would question Mushtaq's motive in putting the ball repeatedly around the same spot. It was yet another example of Pakistan's lack of commitment in this Test match.

With no play in the final session today, the loss of Yousuf Youhana's wicket ten minutes before tea becomes all the more critical. His batting has been of the highest class in both innings of this Test and his stand of 177 with Saeed Anwar, a fourth wicket record for Pakistan against Australia, brought more than just a glimmer of hope to Pakistan.

Saeed Anwar, having been given a life by Mark Waugh at second slip, on 4 with the total 17 for 2, then settled in for a brilliant innings. He gleefully celebrated the let off with two consecutive boundaries in that same over, the first off his legs and the next through cover. But a bit of drama was to come in the next over bowled by Glenn McGrath, Anwar gave a sharp, low chance to Shane Warne at first slip which the fielder seemed to take on the volley. He then signalled that he wasn't sure if he had taken it clearly and gestured for the third umpire's replay verdict. Going by the rules, a player cannot demand a replay verdict, it is entirely up to the umpires to decide. However, Warne's intention was clearly out of honesty and after several minutes deliberation it was judged not to be a catch.

Anwar and Youhana had stopped the early innings collapse and by lunch had brought the hundred up with Anwar meanwhile taking just 58 balls to reach fifty.

Pakistan were still a hundred behind at this stage but during the post-lunch period the partnership flourished with Australia's bowlers making very little impression on either batsman. Youhana's stroke-play was most attractive, he reached his second 50 of the match driving Ricky Ponting to the cover boundary and then hooked McGrath for six to reach 60. He went on to take three boundaries in an over from Scott Muller. Anwar had progressed to 99 when he pushed a single to short mid-wicket to bring up his ninth Test century and, remarkably, his third in three consecutive Tests against Australia.

Their batting was a lesson to the other top order Pakistan batsmen who fell today to poor shots at a time when there was need for a big innings to be built. Inzamam lacked application even though he fell to a good low catch but Mohammad Wasim and particularly Ijaz Ahmed were totally out of form. The latter had no excuse for the shot he played today an airy-fairy square drive and his fielding in this match was almost embarrassing.

With these three batsmen back in the pavilion, Pakistan's second innings seemed doomed on 3 for 37 until the combined effort of Anwar and Youhana put some pride back into Pakistan's work. Saeed Anwar is still in, but with as few as 15 runs on and only the last six wickets remaining, Pakistan's position is unenviable.