It was deja vu over again for Pakistan batter Babar Azam as Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood despatched him packing with a ripper on Day 4 of the continued Boxing Day Take a look at on the Melbourne Cricket Floor on Friday. Hazlewood’s inswinging supply was just like the one his captain and fellow pacer Pat Cummins bowled to do away with Babar. After pitching, the ball nipped again sharply to rattle the stumps, with Babar, who was batting brilliantly on 41, fairly late to get into his strides. Babar’s dismissal within the second innings was fairly just like the one within the first innings.
Big second on this chase! Josh Hazlewood will get the higher of Babar Azam once more! #OhWhatAFeeling | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/umN26tZMq1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 29, 2023
Babar’s dismissal got here shortly after Tea on Day 3 with Pakistan chasing 317 for his or her first Take a look at win in Australia since 1995.
Cummins had earlier eliminated his counterpart Shan Masood on 60 earlier than Tea.
Opener Abdullah Shafique departed for 4 throughout a tough session earlier than lunch, caught by Usman Khawaja within the slips off Mitchell Starc following a interval of intense stress.
Iman-ul-Haq survived the preliminary blitz, however was no match after the break for Cummins, who despatched down a probing ball that nipped again and trapped him lbw for 12.
Masood was given out by the umpire for lbw on 12, however it was overturned on overview and he rapidly bought again in his stride, with an imposing drive via the covers for 4 off Nathan Lyon.
He took a nasty ball to the ribs that wanted remedy, however was undeterred and raced to a gutsy 50 earlier than Cummins once more got here to Australia’s rescue along with his seventh wicket of the match to this point.
The very best-ever profitable fourth innings run chase on the Melbourne Cricket Floor was 332-7 by England in 1928, with scores over 300 uncommon.
The Pakistanis padded up after the hosts have been all out of their second innings for 262, after resuming on 187-6.
Mir Hamza was the perfect of the bowlers with 4-32, whereas Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4-76.
Alex Carey slammed 53 to assist Australia construct their in a single day lead and quieten chatter about his kind after shedding his place within the one-day aspect to Josh Inglis.
He resumed on 16 after Australia had bounced again from 16-4 due to an attacking 96 from Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith’s gutsy 50.
Carey, who made his first and solely Take a look at hundred in Melbourne a yr in the past, hit consecutive fours in his first over from Hasan Ali to construct confidence.
On the different finish, Starc lived dangerously and fell for 9 with the spectacular Afridi getting the breakthrough on a pitch nonetheless providing a bit for the bowlers.
Azam took the sharp probability at slip after Starc miscued a drive.
Cummins made a breezy 16 however was caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan off Aamer Jamal, whereas Lyon crunched two straight fours off Jamal, then was bowled for 11 three deliveries later.
Carey introduced up his sixth Take a look at half-century earlier than being the final man out, lbw to Hamza.
(With AFP Inputs)
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