Watson finally gets century as Aussies declare

Shane Watson finally scored his first Test century after being dropped on 99 as Australia set Pakistan 422 to win on Day 4 of the first Test at the MCG, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

After a string of near misses, Watson finally achieved his lifelong dream with 120 not out in his side's second-innings total of 8-225 before Ricky Ponting declared for a second time in this Test on Tuesday.

The Australian opener should have again missed out on three figures, but for more inept Pakistan fielding.

After more than an hour of batting nervously scratching in the 90s and spending the lunch break perched on 98, Watson slashed a wide ball from Mohammad Aamer to gully and should have been caught.

But Abdur Rauf spilt a regulation chance to his right, and Watson scampered through to personal triumph, bat raised high in the air.

It was an amazing reprieve for Watson, who has found various ways of falling short of a century this season, as he made 96 in the second Test against the West Indies, 89 in the third, and 93 before he was run out in a mix-up with Simon Katich on Boxing Day.

Tuesday also marked the coming of Aamer as Pakistan's next great paceman, claiming three wickets in the first session for a maiden five-wicket haul of 5-79.

Watson should have been his sixth scalp, but for Rauf's miss, which took to five the number of catches Pakistan dropped this match.

Australia's bowlers will now aim to bowl the tourists out inside the remaining four-and-a-half sessions on a pitch that has given the bowlers nothing so far, and has been good for batting.

But the game has been one for the new ball, as Doug Bollinger took three quick wickets with the second new ball in Pakistan's first innings on Monday, before Aamer troubled Australia's top order in their second dig.

Pakistan must create history if they are to win the Test, as the highest last-innings pursuit is the 7-418 the West Indies amassed to beat Australia at St John's in 2003.

The 7-332 England scored in 1928 is the highest successful run-chase at the MCG, while the 7-310 England scored in 1949 is the highest score to save a match.

Ponting called an end to the innings when Nathan Hauritz (eight) was stumped trying to slog Saeed Ajmal.

The only other wicket to fall in the second session was that of Mitchell Johnson, who was batting with Watson when he reached his hundred but was run out for 22 soon after returning to the non-striker's end.