MELBOURNE: Pakistan managed to score 194 runs at the loss of six wickets against Australia after bowling the hosts out for 318 in the first innings on the second day of the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday. Pakistan will resume their innings on the third day with Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Aamir Jamal (2) on the crease, while Australia is leading by 124 runs. Pakistan had a steady start to their innings after the lunch break as they scored 68 runs at a loss of one wicket in the session with Abdullah Shafique (39) and captain Shan Masood (15) on the crease.

Both batters continued their dominant batting in the final session, completing their half-centuries during their 90-run stand for the second wicket. However, Australian skipper Pat Cummins dismissed Abdullah Shafique with a total of 124 runs to break the partnership.

Shafique scored 62 runs from 109 balls with the help of five boundaries. Cummins castled Babar Azam in the next over to further dent Pakistan’s innings and reduce them to 131-3.

Australian bowlers dominated from there on as they did not allow Pakistan to settle down and slipped from 131-3 to 170-6. Shan Masood was dismissed by Nathan Lyon after scoring 54 runs from 76 balls with the help of three boundaries and one six. Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel Mohammad Rizwan was the only other notable contributor with an unbeaten 29 at the end of the day’s play. Cummins led the bowling for his side with three wickets while Lyon picked bagged two wickets. Earlier in the day, Australia resumed their innings at 187-3 with Marnus Labuschagne (44) and Travis Head (9) on the crease.

Head (17) was the first wicket to fall on the day as he was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi at a total of 204. Mitchell Marsh then joined Labuschagne and together they knitted a 46-run stand for the fifth wicket before Jamal struck to sent Labuschagne back. Labuschagne top-scored with 63 runs from 155 balls with the help of five boundaries. Marsh fought a lone war as Pakistani bowlers kept picking wickets from the other end, wrapping the Australian innings at 318. Marsh scored 41 off 60 with six boundaries and one six before Mir Hamza dismissed him to get his first wicket in this match.

Jamal topped the wickets chart for Pakistan with figures of 3-64, while Hamza, Afridi and Hasan Ali picked two wickets each.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 29 2023

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