Pakistan is fighting to avoid losing to Australia for the 16th time in a row

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Staff Reporter

2 years ago

MELBOURNE – After losing three wickets for 129 runs at Friday’s tea break, Pakistan faltered in their attempt to win the second Test in Melbourne by an unlikely 317 runs.

The innings was stabilized by captain Shan Masood and Babar Azam after both openers were dismissed for 49 runs. However, Australian captain Pat Cummins benched Shan for a personal score of 60 at the crack of tea, cutting the tourists to 110 for 3.

At the tea break, Saud Shakeel was batting at 10 and Babar was undefeated at 35. With seven wickets remaining, Pakistan needs to score 188 more runs to win the Test.

While Abdullah was removed by Mitchell Starc, Cummins claimed two wickets.

They were down to 292 at lunch on the fourth day, 25-1, but Shafique was out for four after a period of sustained pressure when he was caught in the slips by Usman Khawaja.

At the half, Imam-ul-Haq was undefeated at five, while captain Shan Masood was still alive at twelve after an on-field leg-before-womb decision was reversed on review.

Resuming on 187-6, the hosts were all out for 262 in their second innings, which allowed the Pakistanis to pile up points.

The best bowler was Mir Hamza, who finished with 4-32, followed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took 4-76.

Although it won’t be simple, Pakistan hopes to win a Test match on Australian soil for the first time since 1995.

In 1928, England achieved the highest-ever successful run chase in the fourth innings of a Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a score of 332-7; scores exceeding 300 were uncommon.

Alex Carey, who lost his spot in the one-day side to Josh Inglis, hammered 53 to help Australia extend their lead and allay concerns about his form.

After Australia recovered from 16–4, he resumed on 16 thanks to an aggressive 96 from Mitchell Marsh (dropped on 20) and a valiant 50 from Steve Smith.

Carey, who scored his first and only Test century in Melbourne a year ago, gained confidence by hitting two fours in Hasan Ali’s opening over.

On the other end, Afridi produced the breakthrough with a pitch that was still giving some bowlers something to work with, and Starc lived dangerously and fell for nine.

Baba Azam seized the momentous opportunity to slip following Starc’s poor drive.

Aamer Jamal gave Pat Cummins a light 16, but Mohammad Rizwan caught him behind, and Nathan Lyon hit two consecutive fours off Jamal before being bowled for 11 three deliveries later.

Carey reached his sixth half-century in Test cricket before being out last, leg before wicket to Hamza.

Staff Reporter