Pakistan and Australia are locking horns with each other in the second Test match of the three-match series in Karachi. After Australia registered a huge score of 556/9d batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan’s start to their first innings was pretty much on the disappointing side and a lot of credit for the same goes to the brilliant spell of Mitchell Starc.
Pakistan’s first innings started with a runout as Australian debutant Mitchell Swepson sent back Abdullah Shafique for 13 runs. Then Nathan Lyon got the crucial wicket of Imam Ul Haq, for 20 runs, bringing relief to the visitors given that Imam had hit twin centuries in the first Test match in Rawalpindi, which ended in a tame draw.
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It was left to the experienced duo of Azhar Ali and Fawad Alam to rescue the Pakistani team but Mitchell Starc, the fiery Australian pacer put water on those efforts from Ali and Alam in just a matter of two balls in the 26th over on day three. First, it was Azhar Ali, who was caught in the slips by Cameron Green for 14 runs in 37 balls, which included a six.
Azhar Ali faced the 149.5 kph bullet and only managed to edge it as it flew to Green, who grabbed it easily, despite the pace. But the ball of the innings thus far came in next as left-handed Fawad Alam faced up to Mitchell Starc. Starc let flew a 145 kph full delivery which honed in Alam’s pads and swung into the batter as well.
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Fawad could do nothing as the umpire readily gave him out after a strong appeal from Starc. Alam did try to review it, but the DRS showed that the ball had pitched and hit Fawad’s pad in the line of stumps and would have crashed into the leg stump. Pakistan lost a review and was reduced to 60/4.
The review couldn’t save Fawad from that blazing Yorker. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/R6vztIRLRB
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 14, 2022
Meanwhile, Australia took full advantage of the flat wicket at the Karachi National Cricket Stadium and batted for seven sessions, piling up a massive 556/9d. Usman Khawaja top-scored with 160, while Steve Smith made 72. Another big scorer for the visitors was keeper Alex Carey, who slammed 93 in 159 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes.
