Against Aus, Pakistan dominated the opening two sessions of the second Test match in Melbourne but the hosts rallied after tea to end the day strongly.
Australia opened the day batting at 187/3, with Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne at the wicket. After dismissing Head for 17, Shaheen Afridi handed Pakistan their first breakthrough on Day 2. Following his quiet 63 from 155 balls, Labuschagne was the next to go. Australia eventually lost for 318 after continuing to lose wickets at regular intervals. For the tourists, Aamer Jamal stood out since he scored three goals.
Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq, the Pakistani openers, gave their side a cautious start in the second session. Before Nathan Lyon defeated the southpaw, they had added 34 more runs in 94 balls. The captain of Pakistan, Shan Masood, walked out to the crease with great positive intent. Despite Josh Hazlewood hitting his helmet, he didn’t seem to be affected. Shafique played it safe, and together they led their side to tea.
Upping the ante, Shafique and Masood scored 56 runs in the first nine overs of the last session. Australian captain Pat Cummins ended their 90-run partnership off 118 balls. The right-arm bowler, who also made a brilliant catch off his own bowling, bowled Shafique out for a 109-ball 62. With Cummins bowling a jaffa to castle Babar Azam in his next over, the dismissal opened the floodgates for the home team.
Before Lyon dismissed Masood for a 54 off 76 balls, he proceeded to score a half century. Before Cummins returned to end Salman Ali Agha’s brief stint at the crease, Hazlewood claimed the wicket of Saud Shakeel. By the end of play, Mohammad Rizwan had scored 29 runs off of 34 balls and was still undefeated. Pakistan is still 124 runs down at 194/6. Together with the tailenders on Day 3, the Asian heavyweights will be hoping for Rizwan to score some significant runs.
Here are the reactions of X users to the play between Australia and Pakistan on Day Two.
A magic ball has blown Babar Azam! Even a greatest batter would have failed to play such a magic seam by Pat Cummins. #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/koFvlwVSVH
— Arfa Feroz Zake (@ArfaSays_) December 27, 2023
What happened to our Batters….??
Why are they in hurry…??
Shan Masood falls! He goes for a big shot and falls to Nathan Lyon.#AUSvPAK #PAKvAUS #BabarAzam𓃵 pic.twitter.com/MnU0akxWN2
— Advocate Fahad Mughal🇵🇰 (@FahadMughal37) December 27, 2023
Nathan Lyon Strikes Once Again!
Shan Masood Out!
54 (76b)#PAKvAUS #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/aFhZb8Lsse— Daniyal Shaikh (@daniyal_shykh_) December 27, 2023
Backbone of Pakistani batting line up is @babarazam258. Not scoring centuries in last few innings will not put him down. During this time we need to back him so that he can bring more victories & records for Pakistan in future..Go well skipper ❤️👍 pic.twitter.com/OGmmuHpDpI
— Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) December 27, 2023
2023 will be remembered for Pat Cummins 🤌 pic.twitter.com/FMyGBvek3U
— SHARDULKAR (@Shardulkar) December 27, 2023
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