The local cafes have been packed for days, but on the fifth day, there is no queue to get your ten-dollar lunch specials. There is no police outside the ground making sure cricket fans dont get run over. Neroli Meadows and Merv Hughes have almost the entire Woolloongabba Place Park to themselves for some TV work. Only a handful watch Pakistan in the nets. Most of the people walking around the ground are not fans but Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket or Brisbane Lions employees. The plastic bollards to give the crowd extra walking space are being taken down even as a few spectators walk past them.That is because no one really believes Pakistan can win.Off the second ball of the day, Asad Shafiq plays and misses. Yasir Shah plays a flash uppercut soon after, and you can feel Australia will just get one right, and the lack of crowd will be justified by a quick finish. But Australia dont get many right.A single guided to deep point is just one of the 490 needed, but it brings the target to under a hundred and cricket makes that a noteworthy occurrence. Shafiq is farming the strike, making sure that Yasir doesnt have to face too many balls. Apparently, he hasnt watched Yasir in the nets over the last two days, because he has looked more assured than Younis, more in-form than Misbah and technically superior to Sarfraz Ahmed. Shafiq plays and misses again at one; that may have hit a crack. Will this heroic defiance be ended by simple day-five deterioration?But as Yasir plays some effortless cover drives, and Shafiq stops playing and missing, the first signs of tension start to show on Australian faces. A graceful push through cover compels David Warner to throw every part of himself at stopping the ball. Instead, it eludes him and gently nudges the boundary triangle. The total crosses 400, another pointless landmark, another moral victory for Pakistan. More belief.Yasir plays an offside waft, not even a real shot; the field is up, and he was sucked into the wrong shot. The ball is passed to Steven Smith who sighs for what seems like seven seconds. Yasir backs up his weak shot with an ordinary stroke that misses the ball by about a foot, and instead hits the ground. Matthew Wade and Smith show some excitement, but its not a real appeal, its just the hope of a real appeal. Its now half an hour, and the game is different than before: there are two set batsmen, one frustrated captain, two tiring strike bowlers and one ever-softening ball.Ian Healy talks to the Pakistani fans, of which there are few, but they are loud enough for it to feel like a home game. One fan claims they will win, not only this Test, but all the Tests. It is different from the passionate pessimism of regular Pakistan fans, but even gung-ho patriotism aside, you can see his point.Australia seems to have no definite plan, no grip on the contest, and now Jackson Bird is warming up. Bird has bowled well and has earned his spot by taking wickets, but hes at his best with a new ball, winkling out top-order batsmen. His first ball seems gentle and apologetic, and is guided with grace and no effort by Shafiq, who happily lets Yasir face Bird, in a way he never did for Mitchell Starc or Josh Hazlewood. Nathan Lyon comes on and Shafiq pushes him away effortlessly as well, and has no qualms about Yasir facing him either - this despite the fact that Yasir is almost dismissed from an excellent Lyon ball straightaway.During a Bird over, Warner comes excitedly to talk to Smith at slip. Next ball, Bird hits a crack; its probably not true, but I like to think that Warner said, all we need to do is hit that crack a lot. The ball flies past the one floating slip, and Smith reacts by putting out a fly slip, who is so square hes almost a fly gully. Yasir responds with a push through the covers for two. Warner chases after it like no man has ever chased after a two in the covers. There is such power in his running, such desperation, and yet it was always going to be two. It was as if Warner thought that by running fast, he could change Australias new fate, of being on the wrong side of the biggest chase in cricket.At the one-hour mark, our stats team point out that only once in Pakistans Test history before this have their numbers 7 to 10 scored over 20 in the same innings.Smith tries something new: a short leg, a short midwicket; fly gully goes back to standard gully and Bird tries to go straight. On a morning of almost no obvious plans or proactive calls, this one is quite clear. Yasir reacts by drop-kicking the straight ball over square legs head like hes operating Viv Richards in a computer game. Forget belief, Yasir now has swag.Lyon beats Yasir and appeals for a caught behind; Wade takes the bails off, and he asks for a stumping. Half the team appeal to one umpire, half to the other, some for a catch, some for a stumping, and probably a few for lbw. Its not an appeal for a wicket; it is not out in any of crickets ten dismissal laws. Its an appeal for help.It is then, with what might be thousands but could be just hundreds of people in the ground, I suddenly realise; I could be at one of the single most amazing days of cricket in history. Pakistan still need heaps, Australia still only need two balls, but it doesnt feel like that. All my cricket background is saying, this will stop, that theyll get a good ball in, or Pakistan will struggle when the overwhelming nature of chasing 490 gets down to a handful of runs. But I dont care. Now I believe.When a strong drive from Shafiq crashes into the non-strikers stumps, there is a sudden panic, as Yasir doesnt have his bat down. But when you see the replay you see a ball heading for Birds hand, only to take an exaggerated dip. Now it might have been spin on the ball that made it do that, or the game now deciding that Pakistan must win. I decide the dip existed, and that it was a sign of a supernatural presence - Mother Cricket - guiding it away.Starc comes back on, Yasir flays, and Shafiq goes down to tell him not to. Yasir pushes Starc through cover; Starc looks at Smith, and Smith shrugs back at Starc. Everyone is talking to someone, every ball. Ian Gould talks to Yasir about something, and suddenly I need to know what is going on: why are they talking, what does it mean, why cant I hear them? Every single small moment, a lingering look at cover and point, or a back pat between the batsmen is now the single most important thing I have ever seen.And Asad Shafiq. I mean what is happening there? He was supposed to be in poor form, still hiding down at six and not taking up his rightful place at three or four. He was barely involved in the first innings and now look at him. He seems to have worked out the exact mathematical dimensions of this ground to find every single or two he needs. Hes batting with Misbahs mind and Younis self-determination, and prettier than either. Shafiqs bat has become something extraordinary, like it was made from a willow tree that was struck by lightning, crafted by Hattori Hanzo and one that he, and only he, could pull out of an enchanted stone. With it, he calmly guides another ball away to the boundary, calmly like this isnt the chance for perhaps the most incredible victory, but just a club game with some mates.Yasir slashes at point. Lyon launches himself as best he can without the athletic gifts that some of his team-mates have, gets a finger to it - just one which you can see bend as the ball crashes through. The other fielders clean up beyond him, the batsmen run three, the balls returned to Wade, who throws it up to mid-off, and Lyon is still on the ground. Shafiq takes a single next ball, and Yasir is back on strike. He leaves a ball after a shuffle down the wicket; it hits his back leg and on commentary, Mark Nicholas says, They ask, they ask, they get it, they get it, they get it. But just to prove that Yasirs judgment all morning has been on song, he reviews instantaneously, and its overturned almost as quick.But the reviews show up something else, something which will be far more important: reverse swing. Its not clear, until another one crashes into the pads, and yes, thats what it is. Oh Pakistan, it had to be that, didnt it?Starcs next over has him around the wicket going at the batsmen. He gets one down the legside and Yasir moves across and it takes something as it goes through to Wade. Starc goes up to appeal, but the ball is trickling along the ground and Wade is desperately trying to pick it up, like he can make up for what has just happened. He gets up and seems to say to everyone, its just pad, or that it didnt carry, but essentially, its all cool guys. The replays show there was bat, but the replays that needed to show whether the catch carried, never comes. Wade finishes the over by fumbling another ball and they dont take the run. Wade walks down pitch trying to spin the helmet on his hand casually. It doesnt spin well, it doesnt look casual. It is barely repressed panic. The panic shifts though with Shafiqs first play and miss in an age. There is no doubt now, the ball is moving, the spell is breaking.Next over, Starc is around the wicket again, and a good yorker is just squeezed away by Yasir. Now it is Starc v Shafiq. Starc, like a chum-baited shark, isnt the same bowler as earlier. The ball jumps up at Shafiq, fast and mean. The man who has been a Zen batting master is suddenly everywhere at once, in the air, facing the wrong way, each limb doing a different thing. But the ball has somehow ignored the chaos to find the leading edge, and it balloons up.Its not that high, its not a tough catch, but it goes to Warner - the man who earlier tried to beat fate by running fast - on a platter with a champagne flute beside it. After the false dawns and optimistic cries of hope, the Australians wait for the catch to be completed, and when it is, they scream, the way you do when you have just realised you arent about to become the laughing stock of the world. Not Starc, he barely raises a hand.Shafiq is even more emotionless. Shafiq was stoic all innings, and his face is the same now as he takes his gloves off and starts heading off. That is until Yasir walks over and embraces him. Then it hits him, and it becomes obvious that up until that very moment, he believed. He believed more than Misbah, more than the loud Pakistan fan on Channel Nine, more than anyone could, or should. He takes his helmet off, and at first he isnt even walking towards the dressing rooms, just drifting off the ground. Of all the things he had allowed himself to dream, the walk off the ground as a loser wasnt one.Rahat Alis reputation as an entertaining batsman, for almost none of the right reasons, means that Yasir decides to hit out. He tries to slog Starc with no luck, and then he tries to hit a yorker. He makes contact, but he doesnt know where, so he takes off, before realising it has gone behind him, and he turns. Smith at first just gently takes the dribbling ball, but then, like a gunfighter who sees a man drop his weapon, he goes for the kill. It was Smith who allowed Pakistan to dream, for Shafiq to be the hero, and now it is the same hands that end the match.Maybe it was reverse swing, Pakistans most dramatic superpower, that changed the balance, but it was quality fielding, their one eternal weakness, that finished them. It was 40 runs those who werent watching will say, not even that close. They wont get it. Just like how those who didnt believe in Pakistan didnt get that they believed in the first place. And they may have lost, but after all that, you know they still believe. Dennis Johnson Jersey . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Ray Allen Jersey . Nigeria beat surprise package Ethiopia 2-0 in the second leg of their playoff for a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory. 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Esa Lindell and Rasmus Ristolainen replied for Finland (1-1-0) Lindell opened the scoring for Finland just 41 seconds into the game, but the hosts quickly regained their composure and tied the score less than four minutes later on Wennbergs first of the game.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another round of Premier League fixtures, as Newcastle host Sunderland and Manchester City take on Manchester United live on Super Sunday. Its a crucial derby day with Newcastle just one point behind rivals Sunderland as both sides look to escape the drop, while United are four points behind City in the race for the Champions League places.Meanwhile, Leicester continue their bid for a first top-flight title in their history with a trip to Crystal Palace as Tottenham host Bournemouth and Arsenal travel to Everton. Merse correctly predicted three of the five Premier League outcomes last weekend, and also called two FA Cup ties correctly, including a perfect score thanks to Manchester Uniteds 1-1 draw with West Ham. Mersons last predictions Result Merses prediction Norwich 0-0 Man City 0-3 Bournemouth 3-2 Swansea 2-1 Stoke 1-2 Southampton 2-1 Aston Villa 0-2 Tottenham 0-3 Leicester 1-0 Newcastle 3-1 Everton 2-0 Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal 1-2 Watford 2-0 Man Utd 1-1 West Ham 1-1 Reading 0-2 Crystal Palace 1-1 Morgan Schneiderlin lunges for the ball against manchester City Read on to see who Merse is backing this week...Man City v Man Utd - Super Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1 HDManchester City have to win this game! Its all becoming very tight in the race for the top four and Manuel Pellegrinis men are really struggling at the moment. The injuries to Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi are a big blow, however, I see home advantage being key in this game. Manchester United also have injury problems and a tough game against Liverpool wont help their chances. I see City just edging this one 2-1.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bets odds: 15/2)Newcastle v Sunderland - Super Sunday, 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1 HD Costel Pantilimon makes a save during the derby against Newcastle Its a big game anyway but now, with one of these two sides definitely going down, its a massive, massive game. If Rafael Benitez hadnt moved to St James Park I would have made Sunderland a certainty. Now, its a very difficult game to call. I watched Newcastle on Monday night and they looked a completely different side. Watching them against Bournemouth and then against Leicester, the difference was startling. The organisation was better but also, the players seemed to give a lot more. I really did fancy Sunderland for this but Newcastle have shown glimpses of promise already under Benitez. I cant split the two sides; its a 1-1 draw for me.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bets odds: 5/1)Swansea v Aston Villa - Saturday Night Football, 5.30pm Andre Ayew celebrates his winning goal against Aston Villa I cant see Aston Villa getting anything out of this game. Its just a matter of time before they are relegated and Swansea will move them a step closer to the Championship with victory at the Liberty.In the process, Swansea should confirm their top-flight status by taking all three points against the bottom side.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bets odds: 11/2)Everton v Arsenal - Saturday, 12.45pm Seamus Coleman and Alexis Sanchez battle in the reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium You just never know what Everton side are going to turn up! One minute they are brilliant and then the next theyre not. It was a great result in the FA Cupp against Chelsea and reaching the semi-final is a major boost for Roberto Martinez, however, before that result they havent been great at home.dddddddddddd On the other hand, I thought Arsenal did well against Barcelona and they will be hoping to translate that form to the league. A draw is no good to either side here but I dont think theres much between the sides. Im going for a 1-1 draw.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bets odds: 11/2)Chelsea v West Ham - Saturday, 3pm Andy Carroll celebrates his goal against Chelsea back in October Chelsea will be desperately trying to stop Slaven Bilics side reaching the Champions League when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge. West Ham are right in the hunt for European qualification but to get a result at Chelsea they will have to play from the first whistle. In recent weeks theyve only come alive when theyve been behind. They came back from 2-0 down against Norwich and they did the same at Everton, before going on to seal all points. They cant afford to give Chelsea a head start. Again, theres not a lot between these two sides and Im going for another 1-1 draw.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bets odds: 11/2) Play Super 6! Enter the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game NOW Crystal Palace v Leicester - Saturday, 3pm Jamie Vardy was on the scoresheet earlier in the season against Crystal Palace Im backing Palace here. I think Alan Pardews side will beat Leicester.The Foxes did not look like a team at the top of the league on Monday night. I know they ground it out but if they play like that for the rest of the season they wont win the league. People will say its good sign that they won playing below par, but they will drop points if they continue to perform like that in the remaining eight games. Theyve punched well above their weight all season but I can just see Palace beating them thanks to a 2-1 scoreline.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bets odds: 10/1)Watford v Stoke - Saturday, 3pm Watford beat Stoke 2-0 at the Britannia earlier in the season Beating Arsenal to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup was a massive result for the club. But what do they do now? Do they rest some of their players in the league with a date at Wembley just around the corner?Meanwhile, Stoke appear to be getting better away from home which is extremely unusual for them. With all that in mind Im picking an away win by two goals to one.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bets odds: 10/1)West Brom v Norwich - Saturday, 3pm In-form Salomon Rondon celebrates scoring his teams first goal against Norwich Norwich picked up a good point against Manchester City last week and Im sure Alex Neil would take a point again at West Brom. However, the hosts are unbeaten in eight matches at home in all competitions.In contrast, Norwich are on a run of six straight defeats on the road in the Premier League and I can see that extending to seven at The Hawthorns.Tony Pulis side just know how to get the job done and for that reason Im backing a 1-0 home win.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bets odds: 5/1)Southampton v Liverpool - Sunday, 1.30pm Philippe Coutinho is tracked by a number of Southampton players during their 1-1 draw earlier in the season Southampton have had some superb results in recent weeks. Their form has completely turned around. Liverpool will have put a lot of effort into their Europa league clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday. It will certainly take a lot out of them so Im predicting a 2-1 Southampton win.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bets odds: 9/1)Tottenham v Bournemouth - Sunday, 4pm Harry Kane will be looking to get on the scoresheet against Bournemouth again Bournemouth are safe now. I always find the teams that are safe are a dangerous proposition because they go out and express themselves. However, if the result goes the way I expect between Crystal Palace and Leicester then Tottenham will have a chance to go just two points behind the league leaders. In my opinion they would not let that chance slip so Im backing them for a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane. However, Mauricio Pochettinos side will have to be wary. Bournemouth will give Spurs a very tricky game.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bets odds: 7/1)PLAY SUPER 6!Theres another £250,000 jackpot up for grabs in the latest round of the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game. All you have to do is predict the scores of the six selected matches. Its free to play so get your entries in before 1500 GMT on Saturday for the chance to win.PLAY NOW... Also See: Premier League questions PL Table Mersons PL Player of the Month PL Fixtures ' ' '