Pakistan will face Australia within the second Check match in Melbourne on December 26 and it will likely be extraordinarily necessary for Shan Masood and Co after they misplaced the primary match of the sequence by 360 runs. The Pakistan cricketers reached the venue few days earlier than the match and so they have been collaborating in strenuous apply classes. Nevertheless, there was a heartwarming second after one of many apply classes as former skipper Babar Azam interacted with the followers who had been current on the stadium. A feminine fan requested for Babar’s hat when he was signing autographs however the star batter sweetly denied her request as he instructed her that he has just one hat and he can not give it to her.
Earlier, Nathan Lyon took his five hundredth Check wicket Sunday as Australia dismissed a rattled Pakistan for simply 89 to put up a thumping 360-run win within the opening Check at Perth.
Pakistan’s unlikely bid to win their first Check in Australia since 1995 was left in tatters by the spin king and the house facet’s formidable tempo assault, who wrapped up the sport inside 4 days.
Chasing 450 for victory, the guests succumbed meekly with Lyon taking 2-14. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood each grabbed three wickets every.
“Nice begin to the summer season, all the things fell into place. We have performed lots of cricket, so the build-up was very chilled and relaxed,” mentioned Australia captain Pat Cummins. “No hiccups this week, it is all gone to plan.
Fan – Bhai mujhe aapki hat chahiye (bro, I would like your hat)
Babar – Mere paas bhi ek hello hai (I’ve just one)
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) December 21, 2023
“500 Check wickets world wide is big,” he added of Lyon. “Could not be happier for him.”
After being left stranded on 499 after Pakistan’s first innings, Lyon lastly reached the milestone when he trapped Faheem Ashraf lbw however there was an agonising wait because it went to assessment.
He then bowled Aamer Jamal in the identical over, becoming a member of an elite membership of simply seven others, together with fellow spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka and Australia’s Shane Warne.
“Nice feeling to take 500 wickets,” mentioned Lyon. “I’ve not taken something without any consideration, particularly enjoying for Australia, and recognize each second of my profession.”
Australia declared on day 4 at 233-5 after Pakistan had been dismissed for 271 of their first innings, in reply to the hosts’ 487.
Cummins made the decision after opener Usman Khawaja was out for a gutsy 90 on a deteriorating pitch after a 126-run partnership with Mitchell Marsh.
Marsh remained unbeaten on 63 after Pakistan had eliminated Steve Smith and Travis Head early within the day to offer themselves hope.
Going through a frightening chase, they received off to a horror begin with Abdullah Shafique out for 2 within the first over, nicking an unplayable Starc ball to Alex Carey behind the stumps.
Captain Shan Masood, in his first Check in cost, didn’t final for much longer, edging to Carey off Hazlewood to go away his staff in dire straits at 17-2.
Starc additionally accounted for Imam-ul-Haq earlier than Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel put up some resistance.
However that crumbled when Azam received an edge to Cummins on 14, with Carey once more accumulating.
After they returned from tea, Sarfaraz Ahmed lasted simply six balls earlier than he was caught at gully off Starc, and Agha Salman was run out.
Lyon then labored his magic earlier than Hazlewood cleaned up.
“We may have batted a bit faster, missed on 60-70 runs,” mentioned Masood.
“Bowling-wise, I believed we did lots of good issues. Not as disciplined as we wished to be, that is the lesson from the Australian assault.”
(With AFP inputs)
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