Pak vs Aus: Alex Carey, Cameron Green add 135 runs for sixth wicket on Day 2 os Lahore Test.
Brief Scores: Australia 391 (Khawaja 91, Green 79, Carey 67, Smith 59, Naseem 58/4, Afridi 79/4) lead Pakistan 90/1 (Shafique 45*, Cummins 27/1) by 301 runs
On the second day of the third Test between Pakistan and Australia, Cameron Green and Alex Carey continued Australia’s innings from the overnight score of 232 for five. Both batters looked in fine touch and cracked a few boundaries in the first few overs of the day. Pakistan bowlers couldn’t contain the run flow generated by the visitors after which the home side skipper Babar Azam introduced spinner Sajid Khan to break the partnership of Green and Carey. However, wicketkeeper batter Carey continued to bat freely and completed his third half-century off 73 deliveries.
Cameron Green and Alex Carey put up a 135-run stand
At the same time, the batting duo of Green and Carey helped their side go past 300. Right-handed batter Green also completed his fourth fifty off 116 deliveries. Australia reached 320 till lunch.
After the break, spinner Nauman Ali broke the century partnership between Green and Carey by trapping the latter in front of the wickets. Carey amassed 67 runs off 105 deliveries with the help of seven boundaries. However, Green continued to plunder the opposition bowler to milk runs. Soon after, however, Naseem Shah put an end to the innings of Green by shattering his stumps. Green made 79 runs off 163 deliveries consisting of nine boundaries.
Read More: Pak vs Aus, 2nd Test: Lyon’s superb 4-112 in vain; Rizwan’s 104*, Babar’s 196 help Pak draw match
Pakistan pacers bundle out visitors for 391
As Australia were seven down, Pakistan bowlers wanted to wrap up Australia’s innings quickly. Left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed Mitchell Starc after the latter smacked two boundaries earlier in the over. In the next over, 19-year-old pacer Naseem Shah cleaned up the stumps of Nathan Lyon. Number eleven batter Mitchell Swepson smoked two back-to-back boundaries but succumbed on the next ball only off Afridi on a personal score of 9. Pakistan bowlers wrapped Australia’s innings on 391 due to four-wicket hauls of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi.
Pakistan lose Imam-ul-Haq; Azhar Ali and Abdullah Shafique rebuild the innings
After tea, Pakistan started their innings with the opening pair of Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique. However, Australia’s pacers put pressure on the opening duo with their threatening bowling. Imam-ul-Haq succumbed to the pressure and got dismissed leg before wicket off Pat Cummins. Imam could make only 11 runs off 41 deliveries.
One down batter Azhar Ali joined Shafique in the middle. Both players built the innings for the hosts and brought up a fifty-run partnership. Hosts reached 90 for one till stumps.
What Lies Ahead?
Pakistan would try to take advantage of the flat pitch at Gaddafi Stadium to take a considerable lead over Australia in this decisive Test in the three-match series, whereas Australia would try to shoot down Pakistan’s batting line-up on a meagre total to win the Test.
Read More: Pak vs Aus, 2nd Test, Day 4: Babar Azam helps Pak survive with 102*; home side 192-2 chasing 506
