Aussies seal to win But(t) for Pakistan's strong reply

Huge cloud cover that marked a spectacular display of seam and swing bowling, suddenly seem to have disappeared with a break through of  a bright sunshine thus, allowing Australia to pile a score of 334 in the 2nd innings and with a lead of 105 in the first innings, set Pakistan an improbable 420 to chase with. Such is the weather at Lords that when there is a cloud cover, the atmosphere seems to be too heavy for the ball to swing and seam and when the sun break's through, the wicket seems to be as flat as one we can see in the sub-continent tracks.

This bright sunshine has helped Pakistan to a great extent - That having provided a strong reply in the 2nd innings, Pakistan will be praying for skies as cloudless as those that they might expect in Karachi at this time of year, as they set their sights on a marathon target of 440 to win the first Test against Australia - as Salman Butt and the debutant Azhar Ali demonstrated in taking Pakistan's score to a confident 114 for 1 in 37 overs at the close of the third day.

The fact that that Pakistani's were thwarted was almost entirely thanks to the determination of Australia's opener, Simon Katich, who batted 174 balls for an invaluable 83 - a performance that, in addition to his first-innings 80, looked sure to have him nailed down for the Man of the Match award.  But then, midway through the afternoon session, with Australia's innings ebbing away on 208 for 8, the heavens cleared and the context of the contest was transformed. Each of Australia's three remaining batsmen - the debutant wicketkeeper Tim Paine, and Nos. 10 and 11, Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger - recorded their Test-best scores as Pakistan's seamers found that the ball was now refusing to budge an inch from the straight and narrow.

This is the time when the sun peeked through the clouds for the first time in eight sessions, and Australia's tail wagged to such violent effect that the end-of-innings scorecard looked like an administrative error, with nine men reaching double figures, but none other than Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey making ducks. It was a fact that highlighted how much the game had changed. A contest that had started with a clatter of wickets looked set to be decided amid a deluge of runs.

Australia still remain overwhelming favourites, but if the clouds stay away, Pakistan could yet make them toil - And if there are clouds in the sky, there may be no silver lining for Pakistan.