| 1.2 : 1.2: P Siddle to Imam, EDGY FOUR! So all the runs till now for Pakistan are courtesy the edges. Imam gets off the mark with a boundary, it is also the first of the innings. Siddle bowls it fuller around off, it slants away with the angle. Imam tries to drive but gets an outside edge between slip and gully for a boundary. However, had there been a third slip not sure if it would have carried. You need to stand a little more closer than normal here in Dubai as the bounce here is not that much. |
| 4.4 : 4.4: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Top shot! This was slightly fuller than the last delivery and hence, Hafeez got it right off the middle. He lunges and strokes it through extra cover for a boundary. His first. |
| 5.4: P Siddle to Imam, FOUR! CRACKED! Full and wide outside off, it is asking to be hit. Imam does exactly that as he crashes it through the cover-point region and the ball races away. |
| 6.5 : 6.5: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Poor ball and put away! Short and wide outside off, Hafeez pounces on the width offered and cuts it through point for a boundary. Good batting here, he is ensuring he puts away the bad balls, not many served by Starc though. |
| 13.4 : 13.4: Jon Holland to Hafeez, FOUR! Hafeez loves using his feet to the spinners and does it really well here. Dances down the track, makes it into a full toss and whacks it over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 14.1 : 14.1: N Lyon to Hafeez, FOUR! First runs off Lyon and it is a beautiful boundary! Pays the price of bowling it too full. Hafeez plants his front foot across and strokes it through covers. |
| 19.2 : 19.2: Jon Holland to Imam, SIX! BOOM! 50 up for Pakistan, exactly the start they would have wanted after electing to bat. Holland tosses this up again, Imam skips down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and whacks it over wide long on for the first biggie of the match. Nice batting this by the two openers. |
| 20.1 : 20.1: N Lyon to M Hafeez, FOUR! CRACKED! That will please Mohammad Hafeez. Lyon drags his length a bit and bowls it a bit wide of off, Hafeez immediately rocks back seeing the scoring opportunity and cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 23.2 : 23.2: Jon Holland to Imam, FOUR! Beautiful! Just so pleasing to the eyes this. Holland gives it a bit more air, Imam seeing this dances down the track and strokes it past the right of mid off for a superb boundary. |
| 23.6 : 23.6: Jon Holland to Imam, FOUR! SHOT! Marginally shorter in length but Imam has got his eye in well. He won't let such balls go. Imam rocks back and cuts it fiercely thorugh point for a cracking boundary. 9 from this one. |
| 27.6: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Unlucky Australia! They will definitely want some luck to go their way on this flat pitch. Starc dishes out yet another full pitch ball outside off, Hafeez goes after it and gets a thick outside edge. The ball flies through the vacant gully region and into the third man fence. |
| 32.3 : 32.3: N Lyon to Hafeez, FOUR! In the gap! Lovely sweep shot. He hits it right in the gap between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 34.1 : 34.1: N Lyon to Imam, FOUR! Up and over! Excellent use of the feet. This time he gets to the pitch of the ball and hits it over mid on for a boundary. Moves into the 40s now. |
| 36.2 : 36.2: N Lyon to Hafeez, FOUR! DEFT! Lyon once again bowls it quicker but there is width on offer. Hafeez waits for it and then guides it very late through backward point for a boundary. |
| 36.6 : 36.6: N Lyon to Hafeez, FOUR! Seeing the ball like a football out there is Hafeez. It is short and asking to be hit. Hafeez says thank you so much and he pulls it over mid-wicket for another boundary. Second in the over. |
| 42.3 : 42.3: N Lyon to Imam, FOUR! Classic! That's confidence personified. Lyon gives this one air, Haq comes down the track and drives superbly through covers for an excellent boundary. |
| 44.5 : 44.5: Jon Holland to Hafeez, DROPPED AND FOUR! A tough chance but Australia need these to be taken. Especially now. A false stroke was drawn and it almost got them the breakthrough. Hafeez tries to take on the left-arm spinner as he uses his feet. Does not get to the pitch of the ball but still goes ahead with the shot. The ball turns away and hence does not come right off the middle. It goes uppishly towards long off. Mitchell Marsh there runs to his right, leaps, gets a hand to it but can't ha |
| 49.1 : 49.1: N Lyon to Imam, FOUR! Excellent use of the feet. Sees the flight on this on, its in line with the leg stump, so he had to make some room while dancing down the track. He does so perfectly and gets under the ball to loft the drive over covers for a beautiful boundary. |
| 55.2 : 55.2: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Very full ball just outside off enticing the right-hander to go for the booming drive, gets a thick edge on it and flies past the left of the diving fielder at gully to cross the boundary at third man. |
| 55.5 : 55.5: M Starc to M Hafeez, FOUR! Fuller in length again around off, Hafeez half purposefully guides it fine through the slip cordon for a boundary. Streaky boundary for the right-hander. |
| 57.6 : 57.6: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Hard Luck personified. Just not Australia's day it seems. Again a good length ball on off, lands and straighten. Hafeez plays the initial line and gets a outside edge which flies tantalizingly close to the right of the diving keeper for a boundary. Paine had no chance to grab that. Well bowled Starc. |
| 59.4 : 59.4: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Class, just class from Hafeez there. How elegant was that? Full and around off, Hafeez with that lazy approach of his, strokes it through covers, he literally just put bat to ball, it hits the middle and then races through wide mid off for a boundary. |
| 60.6 : 60.6: Jon Holland to Imam, SIX! This is modern day cricket! Simply fearless. It was the last ball of this session but Imam does not care. He charges down the track to this tossed up ball on middle and off, he swings his bat and with the turn sends the nut sailing way into the stands behind deep mid-wicket. That's the end of another dominating session for Pakistan. THAT'S TEA. |
| 62.6: N Lyon to Imam, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Australia finally breakthrough. Nathan Lyon strikes and he has ended the massive 205-run stand. He bowls it quicker and on the shorter side outside off, Imam goes to cut but it is a touch too close to play that stroke. The ball takes the outside edge and goes into the mitts of Paine who takes it and appeals. The umpire raises his finger and ends Imam's innings. He has played a lovely knock, a patient knock but is disappointed on missing out on a ton. Id |
| 63.1 : 63.1: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Exquisite! Full and on off, Hafeez caresses it through covers and the ball races away. He looks so elegant playing those strokes. A very delightful player to the eye at his best. |
| 67.3 : 67.3: P Siddle to Ali, FOUR! Wonderful straight drive! Siddle dishes it full again around off, Azhar leans forward and drives it straight past the right of the bowler. The fielder at mid on chases it, dives and it seems he has pulled it back before crossing the rope. The umpire goes upstairs to check if it was cleanly stopped, and it's a boundary as the fielder's arm is touching the rope as he tries to pull the ball back in play. Lovely shot this from Ali. |
| 69.3: P Siddle to Hafeez, OUT! It is clipping the leg pole and it remains umpire's call. So Pakistan do not lose a review but lose Hafeez. End of a brilliant innings. He walks off to a standing ovation and he deserves every bit of it. Siddle bowls another in dipper, this one comes back in a long way from outside off and that too late. Hafeez tires to flick but is done in by the movement. The ball hits him on the front pad. The players appeal and the umpire raises his finger. MH walks up to his p |
| 84.3: Jon Holland to Ali, FOUR! And out of no where Ali dances down the track and lofts it towards long on. The ball bounces before crossing the fence. Risky shot with the ball turning. Jon won't mind this. |
| 86.5 : 86.5: Jon Holland to Ali, OUT! A wicket is thrown away. Talk about showing a lot of patience and then losing it just before the end of day's play. A complete waste. Here is where temperament comes into play, this is Test cricket. With just 3 overs remaining for Stumps, Ali charges down the track and tries to loft it over extra cover. But due to the lack of away spin his connection is very poor and the ball lobs towards long off. Mitchell Starc stationed half way in from the ropes initially misju |
| 88.2 : 88.2: Jon Holland to Sohail, SIX! These modern day batsmen just keep surprising us. Sohail dances down the track in the 89th over, Jon has bowled a flighted ball around off, Haris nicely gets under it, swings his bat through the line, he is able to get good elevation on it, the ball is seen sailing over the straight boundary. Brave cricket... only when it comes off though. |
| 94.4 : 94.4: P Siddle to Abbas, OUT! Bowled! The night watchman is dismissed by a peach of a delivery. This would have challenged the best of batsmen, let alone the tail-ender. Siddle lands this on a length around off, the ball has a slight inward shape on it but as it lands it straightens a bit. Abbas looking to play at it from the crease it beaten by the away movement and the ball crashes into the off stump. Rattle! Australia draw first blood on Day 2. Can they make further inroads? |
| 101.6 : 101.6: M Marsh to Sohail, FOUR! Beautiful bowling from Marsh! Who would have though he would be the one who will create maximum problems for the batsmen? He dishes this full length ball around off from around the wicket. The ball hits the deck and straightens to take Sohail's outside edge and the ball flies through the vacant second slip region and crosses the boundary. |
| 103.6: M Marsh to Sohail, FOUR! Second streaky boundary today, Marsh bowling well here as he keeps this just back f a good length around off. The ball hits the deck and deviates awy just that bit to take the outside of Haris's bat and the ball flies thorugh the slip cordon for the second boundary of the day. Aussis must be dearly hoping for some luck to go their way. |
| 106.6: N Lyon to Sohail, FOUR! First time today we have seen some aggressive intent by the Pakistani batsmen. Sohail skips down the track, gives himself some room and plays an inside-out drive through covers. Siddle there gives a good chase and pulls the ball back in. It seems that he has just about managed to keep the ball in play. However, the umpire goes up to check and replays show that his fingers were touching the rope as he tried to pull the ball back in. Four given and this is much bette |
| 110.6: N Lyon to Shafiq, FOUR! Good shot to end the over. Lyon errs in length as well as line as he lands this short and wide off, Shafiq quickly rocks back and cuts it magnificently through point for a much-needed boundary for Pakistan. |
| 111.2 : 111.2: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! Misses his line completely as he fires this loopy ball way down the leg side. Shafiq does well to paddle it fine into the leg side and pick another 4 runs. |
| 112.1 : 112.1: N Lyon to Shafiq, SIX! WHACK! Now that's some intent from Shafiq, will surely make Lyon think twice before giving air to the ball. The offie tosses it up around off, Shafiq quickly skips down the track, gets to the pitch and goes thorugh the line of the ball to whack it straight over the bowler's head and across the boundary for a maximum. First six of the day and fourth of the innings. |
| 113.3 : 113.3: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! SMOKED! Shafiq is really pumping up the run rate now. Full on middle, the batsman comes down the track and swings it over mid-wicket for a boundary! |
| 117.2 : 117.2: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! Classic shot from Shafiq. Comes down the track to this tossed up ball on off, converts it into a low full toss which allows him to flick it nonchalantly through mid-wicket. His timing and placement is good enough for the ball to cross the fence there. |
| 117.5 : 117.5: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! Shot! Excellent batting this by Pakistan, especially Shafiq. He again skips down the track to this tossed up ball on middle and leg, he sees the line on that one, gives himself room while coming down the track and lofts this inside-out drive over covers for a superb second boundary in the over. Looking good here is the right-hander. |
| 125.6 : 125.6: M Starc to Shafiq, FOUR! Smacked! 50 comes up for Asad Shafiq, his 21st Test half ton this. What a wonderful shot to get there. Starc changes his angle and comes from around the wicket. Lands it short and wide of off, Asad cuts it beautifully through cover-point to bring up the first boundary of the session. |
| 130.4 : 130.4: N Lyon to Sohail, FOUR! The beautiful left-hander's elegance on display. Haris quickly dances down the track seeing Lyon give some air on this one, he also gives himself some room to drive it over covers for a brilliant boundary. Sohail showing good intent. |
| 133.5 : 133.5: M Marsh to Sohail, FOUR! CARESSED! Full and outside off, Sohail drives it straight down the ground and beats mid on! |
| 137.2 : 137.2: P Siddle to Sohail, FOUR! CLASSY! Full and outside off, Sohail leans and drives it wide of mid off for a boundary! |
| 139.4 : 139.4: P Siddle to Sohail, FOUR! CLASSY! It is a delight to watch this bloke bat. Overpitched wide outside off, Sohail reaches out and drives it through the covers. No stopping that. |
| 142.4: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! That is a beautiful shot. Just a fraction too short from Holland, a bit wide as well outside off, Shafiq goes back and then opens the face of his bat beautifully to guide it past Peter Siddle at short third man. 400 IS UP FOR PAKISTAN! |
| 142.5 : 142.5: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! And now over mid-wicket. Finally, Pakistan are accelerating. Tossed up, on middle, Shafiq puts on his dancing shoes and whips it over mid-wicket for boundaries in succession! |
| 143.3 : 143.3: M Labuschagne to Shafiq, FOUR! That is a half tracker and Shafiq drags it over mid-wicket for a boundary! 150-RUN STAND IS UP AS WELL. |
| 143.4 : 143.4: M Labuschagne to A Shafiq, OUT! MAIDEN TEST WICKET FOR LABUSCHAGNE! What a moment for the youngster. He has been picked for his batting, but he has given Australia something to smile in this session. The leggie tosses this up outside off, on a fuller length. Shafiq lunges to defend but the ball turns ever so slightly to take the outside edge. Paine behind collects it well and the Aussies appeal, getting the umpire to raise his finger. The entire team is ruffling his head. Well played, Sha |
| 146.4: Jon Holland to Sohail, OUT! Azam is short! Miscommunication and then trouble. Full on middle, Sohail comes down the track and looks to flick but the ball spins in and goes off the inner half. It does not carry to short mid-wicket but then Haris takes a few steps forward and stops. Babar Azam though, always wanted the single and keeps running. Now, Haris responds. Logically, Sohail should be the man in trouble but Babar is not that quick between the wickets. Marnus Labuschagne could have h |
| 150.1 : 150.1: Jon Holland to Sohail, SIX! Moves to 98! Beautiful batting. Full and outside off, Sohail jumps out of the track and sends it sailing over long off! |
| 152.3 : 152.3: M Starc to Sohail, FOUR! CRISP! This is nowhere close to a fielder either! What a shot from Sohail. Starc bowls it full, going for the inswing but ends up getting it too straight. The centurion drives it straight back to where it came from, to the long on fence. |
| 155.3: N Lyon to H Sohail, OUT! Edged and taken! Lyon finally gets his second wicket after a long toil. And it is that of the centurion. Another southpaw dismissed by him and in an identical fashion as that of Imam. The quicker one outside off, Sohail backed away looking to punch but was beaten by the pace on that one. Got a faint tickle and Tim Paine took another decent catch. The Aussies appeal but honest Sohail is not even waiting for the umpire to raise his finger. Is the declaration coming? |
| 155.5 : 155.5: N Lyon to Asif, FOUR! No messing around. Just go out there and smash. Full and outside off, Asif swings this through the line and clears mid on. |
| 156.5: M Starc to Asif, FOUR! Bad ball, down the leg side, tickled down to the fine leg fence. |
| 160.1 : 160.1: M Starc to Ahmed, OUT! The bat is on the line and Pakistan lose their 8th. A length ball outside off, Sarfraz pushes it through the covers. Aaron Finch dives full length gets to his left but cannot make a clean stop. The ball rolls away from him and he gets up to pick it up and return it. The batsmen then go for the single while Finch concentrates at the bowler's end. He takes aim and then fires a throw at the non-striker's end. Sarfraz reaches out to get in and the umpire refers it upsta |
| 161.2 : 161.2: P Siddle to Asif, OUT! You miss I hit! Siddle's third wicket and he has rattled the sticks this time. He lands this on a good length attacking the stumps. Bilal tries to whack it across the line. He misses the ball as it takes the inside edge and crashes into the middle and leg poles. Pakistan, looking for some quick runs, are very close to being bowled out. |
| 163.1 : 163.1: P Siddle to Riaz, FOUR! Smack! Wow, that's good from a no. 9. Siddle fires this on full around middle and off angling into the batsman, Wahab flicks it nonchalantly over the mid-wicket region for a boundary. |
| 164.2 : 164.2: Starc to Shah, Out! Starc again dishes out a full length ball just outside off, Yasir goes for the drive but misses the ball. Now, there is a sound as the ball is passing the bat. The Aussies appeal for a caught behind but is given not out by the umpire. The tourists soon take a review and Snicko shows that there is indeed a sound as the ball is passing the bat. The bat is also hitting the ground at the same time though which is creating the confusion. The umpire upstairs, however, revers |
| 7.2 : 7.2: Y Shah to Khawaja, FOUR! Brave batting by Usman! Looking to get Yasir off his line and length.Flighted and full around off, Khawaja skips down the track and whacks it over mid on for a confident boundary. |
| 17.1 : 17.1: M Abbas to Finch, FOUR! Abbas runs in with a silly mid on in place. He though serves it too straight, around middle and leg and Finch tickles it fine off his pads to the fine leg fence. |
| 22.4 : 22.4: Y Shah to A Finch, FOUR! 50-run opening syand comes up for the Aussies. Good start this. Shah errs in length and lands this a bit shorter outside off, Finch rocks back and cuts handsomely through point for a boundary. |
| 22.6 : 22.6: Y Shah to Finch, FOUR! Handsomely punched! A bit shorter than full length again by Yasis around off, Finch looks settled now as his goes back and punches this through the gap at covers to get his second boundary of the over. |
| 23.2 : 23.2: W Riaz to Khawaja, FOUR! Cracking shot! He is not letting any loose ball go unpunished. Wahab dishes out a short of a length delivery wide outside off, Usman camps back and slaps it square of the wicket on the off side for a boundary. |
| 24.4 : 24.4: Y Shah to Finch, SIX! KABOOM! That came out of nowhere, but we can expect this from the attacking right-hander. Yasir gives it air and keeps it very full. Aaron from within his crease takes a big stride forward before swinging his blade against the turn. He gets it away from the middle of the bat and it flies over long on for a biggie. |
| 27.3 : 27.3: W Riaz to U Khawaja, FOUR! Finds the gap this time. Wahab once again serves a short delivery around off, Usman uses the depth of his crease to get back and slap it past the point fielder this time. A boundary results. |
| 29.6 : 29.6: W Riaz to U Khawaja, FOUR. |
| 30.1 : 30.1: Y Shah to Finch, FOUR! Flighted full but a bit down the leg side, Finch gets down and sweeps magnificiently through backward square leg for a boundary. |
| 33.1: B Asif to Finch, FOUR! Maiden Test fifty for Aaron Finch! And he reaches there in style. Gets down on one knee to a full ball outside off and plays a crunching sweep shot in front of square leg. There is a fielder in the deep but he got no chance of stopping it. We all know the kind of power Aaron possesses. That went like a tracer bullet. He raises his bat towards his dressing room. This is the first half century by an Australian opener on debut in Asia. |
| 42.1: Y Shah to Khawaja, FOUR! The leggies gives some air and keeps it in line of the stumps, Khawaja though gets the reverse sweep out and this time he cracks it perfectly. The connection is so good that the ball races across the backward point region. |
| 42.2 : 42.2: Y Shah to Khawaja, FOUR! Back to Back boundaries for the southpaw. A similar ball is similarly played by the southpaw. The only difference is that this time he plays it much finer. The ball flies past the first slip fielder for another boundary. |
| 51.4 : 51.4: M Abbas to Finch, OUT! Finch is gone! Excellent low catch by Asad Shafiq. The ploy to have a silly mid on has worked. Abbas with a full length delivery strikes. He angles it into the batsman and Finch tries to hit it down the ground. Goes at with firm hands, middles it decently but fails to keep it down. It's dying down in front of Shafiq who shows extremely good reflexes to grab it inches above the surface. Pakistan can celebrate, finally. The 142-run stand has been broken. |
| 53.3 : 53.3: M Abbas to S Marsh, EDGY FOUR! Excellent delivery. Straightening after pitching. It's angling in around off and Marsh pushes inside the line, flat-footed. It goes off the outside edge, through the gap between first slip and gully, and reaches the fence. Moral victory for the bowler. |
| 54.6 : 54.6: W Riaz to Khawaja, FOUR! Nicely played! Wahab digs in a short delivery but it lacks direction. It's around leg and Usman gets on top of the bounce before pulling it fine down the leg side for a boundary. A good end to the over for Australia. |
| 59.2 : 59.2: B Asif to Marsh, OUT! Another one bites the dust and the debutant Bilal Asif gets his first Test wicket. A generously tossed up delivery outside off. Tempting the batsman. Marsh is lured into a cover drive but the ball spins away after kissing the deck and takes an outside edge to first slip. Asad Shafiq grabs the catch over his head this time as Australia lose their second wicket. A big blow to the Aussies as Shaun has a good record batting in Asia. |
| 61.5 : 61.5: B Asif to Khawaja, FOUR! Firmly stroked! Flighted and full delivery outside off, Usman Khawaja kneels and sweeps it in front of square leg for a cracking boundary. |
| 61.6 : 61.6: B Asif to U Khawaja, OUT! A risky attempt by Usman Khawaja and he has thrown away his wicket. A start wasted. Asif bowls it flatter through the air and it skids on after landing with some extra bounce. Khawaja opts for the paddle sweep but the length is not the ideal one to do so. It takes the top edge of his bat and balloons in the air. Imam-ul-Haq moves across to his left from short leg to take a simple catch. A big wicket this for Pakistan as they get rid of the set batsman. |
| 64.5 : 64.5: Y Shah to Marsh, FOUR! A gift from Yasir and gleefully accepted by Marsh. The leggie gives a air, a bit too much though as it is a full toss and Marsh flicks it beautifully through mid-wicket to get a boundary. |
| 65.3 : 65.3: B Asif to T Head, OUT! The fourth one falls! Wonderfull spin bowling on show here. Pakistan have made this boring match interesting in a span of 30 mins. Bilal again gives this one more air and keeps it on off. Head, who has just come in, goes for the cover drive. The ball lands and spins taking the outside edge and it flies to second slip where Haris Sohail takes a beauty by diving low to his left. Pakistan will now look to go through the Aussie lower order. |
| 65.5 : 65.5: B Asif to M Labuschagne, OUT! HALF THE SIDE IS OUTTA HERE! Bilal, on debut, is on fire. He gets his second scalp in the over as he flights this one and lands it a bit shorter than full length around middle and off. Labuschagne comes forward to defend but the ball turns and bounces more than he expected and takes the inside edge onto his pads and lobs to Imam-ul-Haq at short leg. The Pakistan team is celebrating wildly as they feel they have got a firm grip now on this match. |
| 71.1 : 71.1: Y Shah to Tim Paine, FOUR! Errs in length and Paine rocks back to punch it through cover-point for a lovely boundary. Needs to play a captain's innings. |
| 74.3 : 74.3: M Abbas to Marsh, OUT! That is plumb in front! Abbas strikes in his first over after the break to put Australia further on the back foot. Excellent in-dipper from him from outside off, it tails back in late. Marsh does not get his bat down in time and the ball hits him on the pads. The players appeal and the umpire raises his finger straightaway. Marsh too starts walking as he knows he is a goner. Pakistan are into the tail now, they need another 100 runs to avoid the follow-on. |
| 75.1 : 75.1: B Asif to Paine, OUT! There is a spike on Snicko and the umpire is asked to stay with his decision. Bilal Asif gets a fifer on debut. He was brought in to replace Shadab Khan and let me tell you, he has made a big impact here. He gets rid of the Australian skipper cheaply. Another off spinner on middle, Paine tries to flick but the ball seems to have taken an inside edge onto his pads. The ball lobs towards Imam at short leg who takes it and appeals. The umpire, after giving it a thought r |
| 78.4 : 78.4: M Abbas to Starc, OUT! 8th one down! Abbas gets his third and Starc does not trouble the scorers. Abbas angles this into the off pole which means the batter has to play at it. Gets it to leave after pitching. Starc plays inside the line and the ball kisses the outside edge before going low towards Sarfraz who dives forward and takes a good catch. Third Australian batsman to bag a duck in this innings. 92 more needed to avoid the follow-on. |
| 80.5 : 80.5: M Abbas to N Lyon, FOUR! Handy runs these but they need a lot more! Length ball around off, Lyon pushes at it away from his body. He gets an outside edge through the vacant slip region and into the third man fence. |
| 82.5: Abbas to P Siddle, OUT! TIMBER! Four-fer for Abbas. Full and swinging back in from outside off, Siddle goes for the drive leaving a huge gap between bat and pad. The ball sneaks through and disturbs the furniture behind. The end is now nigh for Australia. Abbas on the other hand, has one ball to get a fifer. Will he do so? |
| 83.3 : 83.3: B Asif to Lyon, OUT! There was a fielder for the sweep shot and Lyon finds him to perfection. He picks up a 6-fer on debut. He tosses this up around middle, Lyon goes for the sweep, connects well but does not keep it down. It goes straight to the fielder at square leg, Ali there takes it and that is the end of the Pakistan innings. They have been bowled out for 202. |
| 1.2 : 1.2: N Lyon to Imam, FOUR! Cracked! Lyon drops it short and a bit outside off, Imam punches this through the cover-point region for the first boundary of this innings. |
| 2.5 : 2.5: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Too easy! Short and wide outside off, it comes slow off the surface. Hafeez has all the time in the world to guide it through backward point and fetch a boundary. |
| 3.3 : 3.3: N Lyon to Hafeez, FOUR! Cracked! That has raced to the fence. Another off spinner from Lyon. Hafeez goes down on one knee and sweeps it hard through square leg. It is in the gap which means a boundary. |
| 4.1 : 4.1: M Starc to Hafeez, FOUR! Take that! The right-hander is continuing from where he left off. On the shorter side outside off, Hafeez stands tall and punches it through covers for a boundary. |
| 7.2 : 7.2: N Lyon to Imam, FOUR! Short, wide and it has been put away. Imam pounces onto the poor delivery and cuts it through point as the ball races away. The lead crosses 300 now. |
| 12.5 : 12.5: Jon Holland to Hafeez, OUT! An excellent catch there by Labuschagne. He showed good reflexes. It was on middle and it turns away and also sticks in the surface. Hafeez tries to play it against the turn which is never a good idea on a turning wicket. The ball takes the leading edge and hits the body of the silly point fielder. Labuschagne there does well to hang onto the ball and then, he falls onto the ground. Something to rejoice for Australia as the centurion of the first innings departs |
| 13.6 : 13.6: N Lyon to B Asif, OUT! The move to send the nightwatchman in, has not worked. Two wickets in two overs for Australia. Lyon gets his first. He tosses this up around off, it turns back in sharply. Bilal prods forward and tries to defend but the ball hits the inside edge and goes towards leg slip, Travis Head there takes a sharp catch. |
| 15.4 : 15.4: N Lyon to Ali, FOUR! Swept and swept fine! Goes down on one knee and sweeps it through backward square leg region and the ball races away. |
| 16.2 : 16.2: Holland to Ali, OUT! Judicious use of the review by Australia as they have struck in the last over of the day. Another failure for Ali. Holland gets his second. This is tossed up around the leg pole. It pitches and then straightens. Ali tries to keep it out but misses. The ball hits him on the front pad and the players appeal. The umpire does not agree. Paine walks up to his bowler and after a chat signals the 'T'. The replays roll in and firstly they confirm that there is no bat. Hawk-Eye |
| 20.1 : 20.1: Jon Holland to Sohail, SIX! WOW! Where did that come from? First aggresive intent shown by Pakistan today. He sems to be continuing from where he left off in the first innings. Jon gives this a bit more air and Haris seeing this skips down the track and whacks it over long on with the turn for a maximum. |
| 23.2 : 23.2: N Lyon to Imam, FOUR! Goes inside out and gets the desired result. Imam is quick on his feet, gets to the pitch of the ball and also makes room. He lofts it over covers and the ball goes for a boundary. Moves onto 30 does the opener. |
| 24.5 : 24.5: Jon Holland to Sohail, FOUR! Up and over! Maybe this is the way to play on this surface. Sohail skips down the track to the flighted ball and lofts it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 26.1 : 26.1: Jon Holland to Sohail, SIX! BANG! Skips down the track on the very first ball and smashes this over the long on fense to bring up the second biggie of the morning. Sohail doing it well here, he is taking Pakistan to safer shores very quickly. |
| 28.3 : 28.3: M Starc to Imam, FOUR! EDGY BOUNDARY! Again a full ball just outsuide off, Imam goes for the cover drive a bit away from his body. The ball though takes the outside edge and flies very low thorugh the vacant first slip region for a boundary. |
| 33.6 : 33.6: T Head to Sohail, FOUR! Drags his length short this time and Sohail picks the length up early, rocks back and pulls it hard through the mid-wicket region to get a boundary off the last ball before drinks. 50-run stand is up now, Pakistan lead by 378! |
| 38.6: Holland to Imam, OUT! Caught and bowled! Imam misses out on consecutive half tons! A soft dismissal there. Imam dances down the track like he has been doing throughout his innings. Does not get to the pitch of the ball though. Holland gets it to land around the rough area outside off and the ball turns back in. Imam tries to push it towards the off side but ends up chipping it back to the bowler who accepts an easy catch. Holland gets his third scalp, ending the 65-run stand. However, the |
| 39.4 : 39.4: M Labuschagne to Sohail, OUT! Three reds and Sohail has to walk back! Excellent use of the technology. Labuschagne gets his first of this innings and second of the match. He was picked for his batting but he has done a better job with the ball. It is another shorter delivery outside off, Haris goes back to pull but the ball does not bounce as Sohail expected it to. He misses the ball to get hit on the pads. The players let out a loud appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Paine walks upto |
| 42.2 : 42.2: Jon Holland to Azam, SIX! All the way! Maybe he has decided to play the attacking way to get back into form. Dances down the track, does not quite get to the pitch of the ball but still goes through with the shot. Connects well and it goes over the long on fence for a biggie. 400 is the lead now. How many more will Pakistan want to add? |
| 43.4 : 43.4: N Lyon to A Shafiq, FOUR! Class! Not easy to play an offie through the off side especially on a turning wicket. Lyon floats it up around off, he bowls it a touch too full. Shafiq reaches out to it and drives it through covers for a boundary. |
| 44.4: Jon Holland to Azam, FOUR! Short and put away! A half-tracker outside off, the batsman cuts it through point and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 48.5 : 48.5: Jon Holland to Shafiq, FOUR! Lovely shot! Runs now coming thick and fast here! 150 up for Pakistan. The lead is now 430. On the pads, Shafiq goes down on one knee quickly and sweeps it through square leg for a boundary. |
| 55.3 : 55.3: N Lyon to Shafiq, SIX! BOOM! And the maximum has brought up 3,000 runs for Shafiq at the No. 6 position, becomes the first batsmen to reach this feat for Pakistan. Lyon tosses this up again, Shafiq this time takes on the bait, skips down the track and whacks it through the line and with the spin over the long on fence for a huge one. pakistan starting to press the accelerator. |
| 57.3: N Lyon to Shafiq, FOUR! Reverse sweep has come out now. Shafiq sees the line outside off and the length was also full to play that shot to perfection, it beats the short third man fielder to cross the boundary there. |
| 57.5 : 57.5: N Lyon to Shafiq, OUT! Holes out at the deep mid-wicket fence. Pakistan have declared on 181/6. Shafiq tries to get under this full pitch ball on off and whack it over deep mid-wicket from within his crease. He cannot get enough timing and power on it to cross the rope and the man positioned near the boundary line, Mitchell Marsh, takes an easy catch with fingers pointing upwards. |
| 1.5 : 1.5: M Hafeez to Khawaja, FOUR! Swept fine and fine enough for the first boundary off the fourth innings. A very full and quick ball outside leg, Khawaja does really well to get some bat on it and sweep it fine of the fielder at short fine leg to cross the boundary. |
| 2.2 : 2.2: M Abbas to Finch, FOUR! Fuller and a bit more width for the attacking opener to play with, he drives this through the covers, standing almost a foot outside his crease may be helping him to counter some movement. The connection on that drive is good enough as the ball crosses the boundary even though the fielder chased it hard and tries his best to stop it. |
| 3.1 : 3.1: M Hafeez to Khawaja, FOUR! Cut and cut handsomely. Usman rocks back and across as soon as he sees the ball a bit shorter in length and outside off, he cbrings out the cut and finds the geap in the point region for the second boundary of the innings. |
| 4.6 : 4.6: M Abbas to Finch, FOUR! Ill directed full length delivery, way down the leg side. Maybe he went for the in-dipping yorker on the last ball of the over with an intent to take the batsman by surprise, however he strays this down the leg side and Finch tries to flick it and gets sufficient amount of bat on it to run it down to the fine leg region for a boundary. |
| 5.3 : 5.3: Y Shah to Khawaja, FOUR! Innovation and it has come off really well. How controlled was that? Gets into position early and plays the reverse sweep through backward point and the ball races away. |
| 8.4 : 8.4: W Riaz to Finch, FOUR! Class written all over that shot! Riaz again fires a very full ball outside off, it's just that bit overpitched. Allows Finch to drive it all along the ground thorugh the cover region for a cracking boundary. |
| 16.3 : 16.3: Y Shah to Khawaja, FOUR! Some aggression from the southpaw. He dances down the track to this loopy delivery on middle and off turning into him. Does not quite get to the pitch of the ball but still goes through with the shot. Whacks it with the spin through mid-wicket and has enough gas on it to crass the boundary there. Good this from the Aussies as the 50-run opening stand comes up. |
| 19.4 : 19.4: B Asif to Khawaja, FOUR! Nice and late! Khawaja rocks back quickly, there is width on offer outside off not a lot but enough for UK to cut it, very late and through backward point for a boundary. He moves onto 29. |
| 21.4: B Asif to Finch, FOUR! Moves onto one short of 40. It is on the pads, Finch sweeps it fine down the leg side and bags another boundary. |
| 23.4: M Abbas to Khawaja, FOUR! Fantastic flick! Abbas fires this a bit full but angles it into Khawaja, targeting his pads. Usman flicks it beautifully through square leg for a boundary. |
| 24.5 : 24.5: W Riaz to Finch, FOUR! In the slot and driven for four! Looks like these two will continue playing their natural game. The right-hander goes after a full length ball wide of off. Makes lovely connection and the ball races across the cover boundary. |
| 29.4 : 29.4: Abbas to Finch, OUT! REVIEW LOST! An in-dipper from Abbas, the one delivery he is an expert of. Lands this one around off and on a good length. Finch looks to play at it from the crease. The ball hits the deck and deviates in to miss his inside edge and raps his front pad. The Pakistani players go up in a huge appeal and the umpire immediately raises his finger. Finch after some though and a small chat with Khawaja signals the 'T'. Replays show that it hit the pads in line and it is hittin |
| 29.6 : 29.6: M Abbas to Marsh, OUT! And 87 strikes twice! two in the over and Pakistan are roaring loud now. very very loose this from Marsh. Abbas dishes this on on a good length around off from around the wicket. The ball lands and nips away a bit to take the batsman's faint outside edge and into Sarfraz's mitts. He throws the ball in the air in joy and they have 2, pretty early. |
| 31.4 : 31.4: M Abbas to Marsh, OUT! What. A. Review. Fantastic stuff from Pakistan. And it is still - 87. Abbas keeps it a bit fuller than good length. It has a inward movement to it. It lands and nips in further beaten the forward push of Mitchell, rapping him on the pads. Pakistan appeal but the umpire declines it. Seems not out to the naked eye but Sarfraz has different ideas. He chats with the bowler and his players and decides to go for the review. Replay show that the impact is in line as expecte |
| 35.1 : 35.1: M Abbas to Head, FOUR! Cracked! A short and wide ball outside off and Head cuts it fiercely through the point region for a cracker of a boundary. He looks in a nice frame of mind as he earns his first boundary in Test cricket. |
| 37.4 : 37.4: B Asif to Head, FOUR! That's a much better way to play. He advances down the track to reach the pitch of the delivery and then drills his drive through covers for a cracking boundary. |
| 40.2 : 40.2: Y Shah to T Head, FOUR! Head finding his feet in Test cricket. Yasir bowls a long hop and lands it very short on off. Head gets back and across quickly to pull it through square leg for a confidence-boosting boundary. |
| 43.1 : 43.1: B Asif to Head, FOUR! Good start to the over! Bilal serves it a bit short and around off. Head rocks back to make space and crunches it through covers for a boundary. |
| 54.5 : 54.5: W Riaz to Khawaja, FOUR! There is some movement on offer but Wahab fails to control his line. Lands it around middle and it shapes down, Khawaja eases it off his pads and it beats the fine leg fielder to the fence. Consistency is lacking from Wahab. |
| 58.2 : 58.2: Y Shah to Head, FOUR! Another leg spinner but it lands outside leg and turns down, Head goes down on knee for the sweep but fails to middle it properly. It speeds past the keeper and trickles over the rope at fine leg. Given as a boundary. The replays later on show that it came off Head's gloves. |
| 71.5 : 71.5: M Abbas to Khawaja, FOUR! That's thumped! A half-volley this time by Abbas, an attempted slower one outside off, Khawaja leans forward and drives it elegantly through covers for a glorious boundary. |
| 80.1 : 80.1: M Hafeez to Head, OUT! What a masterstroke by Sarfraz! He immediately opts for the new nut and gives it to Hafeez. The experienced campaigner has delivered and the Pakistan players are jubilant. The long wait for a breakthrough ends for them. Hafeez delivers it from 'round the wicket and tosses it up in line of the stumps. Since it's a new ball, the ball skids through the surface, beats the bat of Head who probably was on the back foot waiting for the spin. He misses it completely to get r |
| 82.1: M Hafeez to Khawaja, FOUR! Bang! Attack is the best form of defense. Khawaja wears his skates to rush down the track and powers it over mid on for a cracking boundary. Excellent footwork. It's important not to get bogged down here for Usman. |
| 82.5 : 82.5: M Hafeez to Khawaja, FOUR! And again. The new ball won't spin much and Usman is using that to his advantage. He shimmies down the track and lofts it nonchalantly over mid on for yet another boundary in this over. Moves into the 90s as well. |
| 86.5: M Hafeez to Labuschagne, SIX! WHACK Skips down the track again. This time he reaches to the pitch of it and swings through to heave this nut over the long on fence for his first maximum in Test cricket. Good shot! Ramiz Raja on air says - Are they going for the chase?... Interesting. |
| 89.1 : 89.1: Shah to Labuschagne, OUT! Trapped in front. HALF THE JOB DONE BY PAKISTAN! Number five goes down for the Kangaroos. Yasir Shah comes into the attack now as he pitches this on a fuller and on off. Labuschagne, instead of coming forward, goes back to it. It's a googly and it spins in sharply to completely fox the debutant as the nut misses his inside edge to get rapped right in front. The hosts go up in an appeal in unison and gets the desired response from the umpire as he raises his finger |
| 92.3 : 92.3: B Asif to Tim Paine, FOUR! Errs in length and lands it very short outside off. Paine camps back and cuts it late through backward point. The fielder tries his best to stop it from crossing the rope but is unsuccessful. |
| 104.1 : 104.1: Y Shah to Khawaja, FOUR! SHOT! The left-hander's elegance, just so beautiful. Yasir gives this air and keeps it around off. Khawaja skips down the track, gets to the pitch and handsomely drives through covers to get a boundary off the first ball of the over. |
| 111.5 : 111.5: W Riaz to Paine, FOUR! Errs in length and line and pays the price. Fires this one a bit too full on his pads. The Aussie keeper flicks this through square leg for a boundary. 50-run stand comes up. Well played by these two. Another hour and a half to cope with. |
| 114.3 : 114.3: Y Shah to Tim Paine, FOUR! Paine cuts and cuts hard! Slightly short and turning away. Paine tries to cut but the ball goes off the outside edge through short third man for a boundary. |
| 125.3: Y Shah to Khawaja, OUT! Full ball around off spinning into Usman. The southpaw goes for the sweep shot but surprisingly misses to get hit on the pads. It looks pretty adjacent as the Pakistan players shout out an appeal. The umpire raises his finger. UK has a chat with his skipper before signaling the 'T'. He has no other option but to go for it. So, the replays roll in. Snicko shows no involvement of the willow. The impact is in line and it is hitting the stumps. Three reds and the match |
| 127.1 : 127.1: Y Shah to Starc, OUT! WATTA CATCH, MATCH WINNING PROBABLY! Do not go anywhere folks, this match is going right down to the wire. It is going to be very interesting from now. Yasir bowls this slow and lands it a bit shorter on middle. Starc goes back and tries to turn it into the leg side. The ball spins and bounces that bit extra and the southpaw is not able to keep his shot down. It goes to the right of short leg at a decent pace where Babar Azam is positioned. He dives to his right at c |
| 127.4 : 127.4: Y Shah to Siddle, OUT! Australia are now falling like nine pins! Two in the over for Yasir Shah. He was wicket-less in the first innings but now has 4. He has turned the game around on its head. What a bowler! Another leg spinner by him around middle and leg. It pitches and skids through. Siddle goes back and tries to flick but misses. He gets hit high on the back bad but due to him being so deep inside the crease the umpire agrees with the appeal. Siddle walks back without troubling the |
| 130.5 : 130.5: B Asif to Paine, FOUR! Whipped for a boundary. Bilal tries the doosra and errs in line. Paine goes back and whips this, a bit uppish, very fine through the leg side to get a boundary. Runs are irrelevant now. |
| 133.4 : 133.4: M Abbas to Paine, FOUR! Almost, almost! Kissing the leg stump perhaps. Abbas cleverly bowls an off cutter just outside off. Paine is beaten in pace as he hangs his bat away from his body looking to block it. The ball lands and turns back in to take the inside edge. The cherry goes past the leg stump and there was absolutely no gap between the ball and the leg pole when the ball passed it and through to the boundary at fine leg. Luckily Lyon. |
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