Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 2 Highlights: Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali Power Pakistan To 90/1 At Stumps
Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 2 Highlights: Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali steadied Paksitan's ship as Pakistan reached 90 for one at stumps on Day2 of the third and final Test in Lahore on Tuesday.
Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 2 Highlights: Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali steadied Paksitan's ship as Pakistan reached 90 for one at stumps on Day2 of the third and final Test in Lahore on Tuesday. Pakistan were trailing Australia by 301 runs, with Shafiue and Azhar batting on 45 and 30, respectively. Earlier, Australia were bowled out for 391 in their first innings. Resuming at 232-5, Australia added 159 runs with Cameron Green scoring 79 and Alex Carey 67. For Pakistan, the pace duo of Naseem Shah (4-58) and Shaheen Shah Afridi (4-79) were the main wicket-takers. At the start of play Pakistan would have felt they could make early inroads with the second ball only five overs old. But Australia, who resumed at 232-5, took advantage of a placid Gaddafi Stadium pitch to bat through 28 overs unscathed. The series is tied 0-0 after the first two Tests, in Rawalpindi and Karachi, ended in draws. (LIVE SCORECARD)
Playing XIs:
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Sajid Khan, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Afridi
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson
Australia Cricket Team
Pakistan Cricket Team
Alex Carey
PAK vs AUS, 3rd Test, Day 2, Live
Welcome back! Around 3 overs left in the day's play as David Warner and Usman Khawaja walk out to build on Australia's lead. Shaheen Afridi is getting ready. Here we go...
... THIRD INNINGS ...
Pat Cummins finished with a 5-wicket haul and is leading his team off the park. His partner in crime, Mitchell Starc, bagged a 4-fer. A placard in the crowd read - Mitchell Starc, you beauty - Pat Cummins, you cutie! Ahem. Beast would have been a better choice of word. Anyway, Australia will have to bat for a few overs before Stumps and with a big lead under their belt, they will be confident of seeing off the day's play safely. Stay tuned...
A collapse of epic proportions! All seemed hunky-dory for Pakistan in the first hour after Tea but then Pat Cummins decided to unleash Mitchell Starc. He repaid the faith shown in him by the skipper and got rid of Fawad Alam and that opened the floodgates. Pakistan slipped from 248/3 to 268 all out and have ended up conceding a 123-run lead which can be considered quite hefty on this surface. The hosts will be disappointed as they worked really hard in the two sessions with Azhar Ali and Abdullah Shafique forming a big stand and then Babar Azam extending it further but this collapse has left them reeling.
OUT! TIMBER! Mitchell Starc cleans up Naseem Shah and Pakistan have been bundled out for 268! Starc serves a brilliant yorker that tails in late into the off stump. The pace and the reverse swing is just too much to handle for the number 11 batter and Shah can only watch back as the bails come off. The ball crashes into the base of off stump and Pakistan have collapsed from a position of strength! Mitchell Starc picks up 4 wickets and Australia have just steamrolled the Pakistani tail.
Beaten! A touch short and on off, Naseem is squared up in defense and it whistles past the outside edge.
Starc spears it full and outside off, Naseem pushes at it and misses.
Naseem Shah is the last batsman.
OUT! LBW! Mitchell Starc goes wide of the crease and angles it into middle and leg. Babar Azam looks to work it through mid-wicket but the ball skids through and Azam falls over a bit in his stance. He gets rapped on the pads and there is a huge appeal. The finger is raised in a jiffy and Babar Azam has no option other than to review the LBW decision at this stage. Babar seems to be caught plumb in front but given the angle of the delivery, it might be missing leg slightly. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved and Ball Tracking shows that the ball is going to clip the leg stump. Azam goes after a well-compiled knock and Starc has his third wicket.
Angled in full and on off, from 'round the stumps. Afridi does well to make the block.
Shaheen Afridi's turn to face the music.
OUT! TAKEN! A 5-WICKET HAUL FOR CUMMINS! Pat Cummins becomes the first pacer in the series to pick up a fifer and boy hasn't he deserved it today! Cummins pitches it up, a bit outside off. Hasan Ali leans in and looks to push it out towards covers. The ball reverses away from the right-hander this time and the ball goes off the face of the bat towards first slip. Steven Smith has had a mixed bag in the slips but takes a sharp low catch this time. Cummins is too good for the Pakistani lower order and Australia are a couple of wickets away from wrapping up things in the first innings.
A bit shorter, close to the off stump. Ali keeps it out on the off side.
Fullish delivery, around off and tailing in late. Hasan Ali does really well to keep it out.
On a good length, reversing into Ali from around off. Blocked out.
Hasan Ali is the new batter. Pakistan trail by 123 runs. The lightmeter has been handed to Aleem Dar. He though has not taken any reading as of now.
OUT! Nauman Ali reviewed the decision for an LBW decision but to no avail. Pat Cummins is on a marauding spell at the moment as he picks up his fourth wicket. Cummins comes from 'round the wicket and serves it on a length close to the off pole. The ball pitches and nips back in sharply off the surface. Nauman Ali gets caught on the crease as he looks to block it out. He misses and gets pinged in front. The finger goes up. This one seems to be adjacent but Pakistan haven't lost any reviews so decided to use one in hope. UltraEdge confirms that there's no bat involved and Ball Tracking comes up with three reds. Pakistan are in a spot of real bother now.
Starc pushes it even wider and Babar isn't going to play at that one. The ball goes along the ground towards the keeper.
FOUR! Nicely played! A wide yorker from Starc at well over 140 clicks. Babar Azam hangs deep and squeezes it past the slip cordon and into the third man fence.
Full, on the fifth stump line and at 144 kph. Babar jams it out towards covers.