Pak vs Aus, 2nd Test – Pakistan all out for 148 runs in first innings, Australia lead by 489 runs
Brief Scores: Australia 556/9d (Khawaja 160, Carey 93, Smith 72, Ashraf 55/2) & 81/1 (Khawaja 35, Hasan Ali 14/1) lead Pakistan 148 (Azam 36, Starc 29/3) by 481 runs at Stumps on Day Three
Australia started their innings on 505 for eight on the morning of the third day. Left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi bowled the first over for Pakistan in the morning and he scalped a wicket in the same over only. Mitchell Starc, in trying to hit aerial stroke, mistimed the ball towards Azhar Ali and had to go back to the pavilion for 28 runs off 97 deliveries.
Now, Pakistan were only a wicket close to wrapping up the innings of Australia. However, Mitchell Swepson and Pat Cummins ambushed Pakistan pacers with their aggressive approach. Both batters launched many boundaries to milk the runs for the last wicket.
Cummins smacked two sixes off left-arm orthodox spinner Nauman Ali and later he pummelled two boundaries against off-break spinner Sajid Khan. With that Australia declared their innings on a monumental total of 556 for nine after nine overs in the morning.
Pakistan lose one wicket before Lunch
Pakistan openers – Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique – started well against Australia’s pacers, however, Shafique got run out due to a crazy mix-up on the pitch with his partner Imam. He could make only 13 runs off 36 deliveries. Veteran batter Azhar Ali joined Imam in the middle. They manage to hold fort for their side till the end of the first session.
Read More: Pak vs Aus, 2nd Test, Day 2: Alex Carey’s tenacious 93 gets Australia past 500
Mitchell Starc kicks off the collapse with two wickets in an over
In the first over after lunch break, Azhar Ali started with whopping six over long-off. However, in the same over veteran spinner Nathan Lyon took the wicket of Imam on 20. Imam went down the wicket to go for a big stroke but mistimed the ball straight into the hands of Cummins.
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam came to bat at two down. He suffered a close LBW shout against Cummins, however, he survived the appeal. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc produced a breath-taking over to bag two back-to-back wickets. First Azhar edged and was taken by Cameron Green at the second slip. He could make only 14 runs off 37 deliveries. On the next delivery, Starc trapped Fawad Alam plumb in front of the wickets for a duck on this flat wicket.
Pakistan continue to lose wickets
As Pakistan were already four down for 60, they were in huge danger of facing follow-on. Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan joined Azam in the middle to rescue the Pakistan innings. However, Rizwan looked out of touch and he suffered two close calls off Cummins.
On the first opportunity, Steven Smith dropped a simple catch of Rizwan at slip. However, in his next over, Cummins sent back Rizwan to the pavilion on just six; as Rizwan went for a hesitant push, an edge was induced and went straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Next batter Faheem Ashraf also got out leg before wicket off speedster Cameron Green on just four leaving Pakistan in a measly state at 81 for six. Sajid Khan was caught by Carey behind the wicket on just five off Starc before Tea.
Australia bundle Pakistan out on a meagre 148
After tea, Pakistan continued to lose wickets in quick succession. Babar Azam was looking for disaster unfolding at the other end. Lower-order batter Hasan Ali was subject to a suicidal run-out for duck to finish all hopes of Pakistan fans. At last, right-arm leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson bagged his maiden Test wicket by sending Babar Azam to the hut. Azam made 36 runs off 79 deliveries with the help of three boundaries. Next batter Shaheen Afridi smacked three fours and one gigantic six before getting out on 19. Swepson caught him LBW to wrap up Pakistan’s innings for a paltry 148.
Australia reach 81 for one at Stumps
After taking an elephantine lead of 408 runs over Pakistan, Australia decided to not enforce follow-on. David Warner and Usman Khawaja opened the batting in the second innings for Australia. However, Warner was caught by Fawad Alam at gully after making just seven runs. One down batter Marnus Labuschagne started positively. Both batters plundered some boundaries to milk the runs. They brought up the fifty-run partnership off just 55 deliveries for the second wicket.
Wicketkeeper Rizwan spilled the catch of Khawaja on 30 runs against off-break spinner Sajid Khan. At the other end, Labuschagne smoked a huge six over mid-off off left-arm slow bowler Nauman Ali.
Australia ended the day at 81 for one to take a lead of 489 runs over Pakistan.
Read More: Pak vs Aus, 2nd Test, Day 1: Khawaja’s 127, Smith’s 72 blunt Pakistani attack, Aus reach 251-3
