After a mouthwatering contest in Dubai last week, Australia bamboozled by some brilliant bowling by Mohammad Abbas and well supported by Pakistani batting department if you don’t want to talk about the first session of this test match. Overall it was a one sided game for Pakistan. Pakistan were down in the very first session of the game when they were five down at 57 runs only, well rescued by their captain and debutant Fakhar Zaman, both scored 94. Since then Pakistani team never look back and won this second test by 373 runs and also claimed the series win by 1-0 in UAE.
Day-1 (Pakistan were down in the first session, won next two)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMxZBvrMTMU?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Once again toss won by team Sarfraz Ahmed and he decided to bat first on a new look pitch with some grass on it. Pakistan made two changes they played Fakhar Zaman in place of injured Imam Ul Haq and Mir Hamza in place of Wahab, while Aussies went unchanged. Pakistan was reasonably looked good at 57 for 1 in the first session, when they lost their four more wickets on the same score in span of two overs. It was Nathan Lyon who took all 4 wickets and dragged Pakistan on to the back foot in the first session of the game. Australian bowlers couldn’t capitalize and Pakistan stabilizes from 57 for 5 to 282 all out, thanks to brilliant 147 runs partnership in between Fakhar and Sarfraz. Both missed out the opportunity to hit their hundreds but their contribution led a foundation of the strong come back in this test match. Pakistani bowlers started brilliantly when they had to bowl at the dyeing period of the first day, they picked up two important wicket. Australia was forced to end the day on 20/2.
Day-2 (Pakistan continued their dominance on Day2 over Australia)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyd-Wx0dfOM?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Australia could only make 145 in their first innings due to some brilliant bowling by Mohammad Abbas and Bilal Abbas (5 and 3 wickets each respectively). After restricting them Pakistan finished the day on 144 for 2, which strengthen their grip on the test match further. Fakhar Zaman (66) and Azhar Ali (54*) ensured that they are in pole position with the lead extending to 281 at the end of day’s play. On the next day Pakistan will have to play more aggressive cricket and will declare after the lunch.
Day-3 (Pakistan wins another day and the next day will be final one)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1AQZ_x_TNs?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
The third day started with a drama, when Azhar Ali hit shot towards the Gully-Third Man area, and punches down the Asad Shafiq at the middle of the pitch and both thought the ball went cross the boundary wasn’t the case ball stopped some 2 feet before the boundary line Starc picked it up and threw it to the wicket keeper Tim Paine who shattered the stumps, interestingly both batsmen were unaware of this thing which is going to happen, eventually Azhar Ali ran out himself through this dramatic way. Once again Sarfraz played a brilliant 64 runs innings along-with Babar Azam’s 99 who was struggling to score some runs in the test cricket, Pakistan declared their 2nd innings at 400 runs. Marsh came with Finch to open the innings as Khawaja was injuired, Marsh couldn’t survive either, and he gets an unplayable delivery by Mir Hamza (his first test wicket) Australian position wasn’t looked impressive at all, because they have to play out two more days of the test match to survive.
Day-4 (Pakistan win the game comprehensively)
It was expected that Australia will resist and replicate their Dubai performance, but this time it won’t be happening as Abbas had some other ideas to dismantle Aussie batting line up through his accuracy and habit of picking wickets on regular intervals. Once again Abbas picked up 5 wickets in this innings completes his 10 wicket haul of the match well supported by Yasir Shah with three wickets. Australia was all out 164 runs, and Pakistan win the game by 373 runs and also win the series.
Player of the Match: On his brilliant bowling in both innings, Mohammad Abbas was awarded as the player of the Match and also he grabbed Player of the Series Award.
Mohammad Abbas: “It’s a day of great delight for me. It’s my daughter’s birthday tomorrow, will dedicate this to her. Whatever the pitch, my job is to bowl to my strengths. I’ve been man of the series back to back. I wanted to replicate my performances from England. I bowled to my strengths, to the opposition’s weakness. No one is perfect (talking about him). Hit my areas. I didn’t get out of my circle. Wanted to do this in England too, but couldn’t do so. I’m doing my thing, if Pakistan needs me in limited-overs, I’m there.”
Smart scorecard:
Pakistan 282/10 in 81.0 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 94, Fakhar Zaman 94; Nathan Lyon 78/4, Marnus Labuschagne 45/3)
Australia 145 all out in 50.4 overs (Aaron Finch 39; Mohammad Abbas 33/5, Bilal Asif 23/3)
Pakistan 400/9 dec in 120.0 overs (Babar Azam 99, Sarfraz Ahmed 81; Nathan Lyon 135/4)
Australia 164 all out in 49.4 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 43; Mohamamd Abbas 62/5, Yasir Shah 45/3)
Next Encounter: First T20 International match at Abu Dhabi on 24th October 2018.
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