Australia [318 & 262] secure the Benaud-Qadir series with a 79-run win over Pakistan [264 & 237] in the 2nd Test at the MCG

[Cricket Warrior]

It was another thrilling day of Test cricket at the MCG, and Australia found themselves with the advantage at 241/6, but Pakistan remained in contention. Adding 70 runs to their overnight score, Pakistan displayed dominance with the new ball. Shaheen Afridi made a significant impact by swiftly dismissing Khawaja and Labuschagne before lunch. His new ball partner, Mir Hamza, followed suit by removing Warner and Head in consecutive deliveries, leaving Australia struggling at 16/4.

Despite a dropped catch that allowed Marsh to score 96, Australia faced mounting pressure. Smith had a challenging time in the middle, enduring multiple beatings and failing to score a boundary in his first 100 balls. However, the Australian No. 4 fought hard to notch up a fifty. The scoring rate dipped significantly after Marsh's dismissal, and Smith eventually succumbed to the short ball trap in the final over of the day.

Despite the challenges, Pakistan exhibited considerable resilience in the Test. Looking ahead, the upcoming chase won't be easy, given the assistance for pacers throughout the match.


Squads:

Pakistan Squad: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood(c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Agha Salman, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Wasim Jr

Australia Squad: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey(w), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins(c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Cameron Green




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[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

An excellent effort from the Shaheens with the ball even though its not our first choice attack bar shaheen.

Mir Hamza deserves a special mention for his effort along with Aamir jamal.

Hassan Ali bowled well in the first innings.

The Aussies had their fair share of luck beaten so many times outside off, Abdullah dropping catches at pivotal moments like warner in the first test and now Marsh in the 2nd at a crucial series defining juncture with the Aussies more than likely being bowled out and us chasing under 200 to win the test.

Steve smith getting the DRS umpires call in his favour is another turning point

If we minus the 52 extras in the first innings scores would be even.

Now its up to the batters to be positive and attack to chase down what ever score is set after mopping up the tail Asap.

 

[160KPH]

Hoping for the best!

That Smith wicket at the end of the day yesterday was so important. We have to blast through the remaining batsmen and hope we are chasing under 300.

It’s time for the middle order to take us home. Shan/Babar/Saud will be so so important.

 

[MenInG]

Day 4 pitch

https://twitter.com/x/status/1740489993150443742

 

[Rana]

11:00pm start?

 

[Cricket Warrior]

11:00pm start?

yes early start

 

[Abdullah]

An excellent effort from the Shaheens with the ball even though its not our first choice attack bar shaheen.

Mir Hamza deserves a special mention for his effort along with Aamir jamal.

Hassan Ali bowled well in the first innings.

The Aussies had their fair share of luck beaten so many times outside off, Abdullah dropping catches at pivotal moments like warner in the first test and now Marsh in the 2nd at a crucial series defining juncture with the Aussies more than likely being bowled out and us chasing under 200 to win the test.

Steve smith getting the DRS umpires call in his favour is another turning point

If we minus the 52 extras in the first innings scores would be even.

Now its up to the batters to be positive and attack to chase down what ever score is set after mopping up the tail Asap.

I genuinely think the two teams are equal.
Right now the only difference is that our batters need a couple of extra warm ups, and Australia have their first choice eleven and we don't.
( Catching is also a difference)
Good work from the boys.
We just need the PCB managing these tours better to give us a chance

 

[Suleiman]

Hoping for the best!

That Smith wicket at the end of the day yesterday was so important. We have to blast through the remaining batsmen and hope we are chasing under 300.

It’s time for the middle order to take us home. Shan/Babar/Saud will be so so important.

Yep. A lot of Pakistani fans already crying the match is over, yet you can see on Aussie’s expressions they are still tense and focusing hard. Smith p much facepalmed and stood there after being dismissed in what felt like hours trying to contemplate what just happened

If the game was over, they’d look way more relaxed and carefree in losing wickets at this stage.

 

[Buffet]

Bowlers need one inspired spell here. 30/4 and then chase will be around 270. Not easy to chase 270, but not impossible.

 

[Seen Sheen]

When India chased down 300+ at the Gabba a couple of years ago, their top 3 laid the platform for the likes of Pant and the lower order to finish the job. That was a day 5 pitch with a lot of uneven bounce. But Pujara became the true wall that day and wore multiple blows on the body.

That would be Imam's job, just hold up one end and don't give your wicket away to a soft shot at any cost.
Pakistan also have an advantage that they will be doing bulk of their chase on a day 4 pitch as opposed to a day 5 pitch.
Shan has to set the ultimate example and get stuck into the Australian bowlers. If the top 3 provide a platform then hopefully the middle order can also up their game and give their max.

Even if Pakistan lose, I want to see the ultimate fight from the team.

 

[Buffet]

When India chased down 300+ at the Gabba a couple of years ago, their top 3 laid the platform for the likes of Pant and the lower order to finish the job. That was a day 5 pitch with a lot of uneven bounce. But Pujara became the true wall that day and wore multiple blows on the body.

That would be Imam's job, just hold up one end and don't give your wicket away to a soft shot at any cost.
Pakistan also have an advantage that they will be doing bulk of their chase on a day 4 pitch as opposed to a day 5 pitch.
Shan has to set the ultimate example and get stuck into the Australian bowlers. If the top 3 provide a platform then hopefully the middle order can also up their game and give their max.

Even if Pakistan lose, I want to see the ultimate fight from the team.

+1

Pakistan needs to believe that they can chase 300 runs. They don't have the class of India batting, but as you pointed out, no uneven bouncer yet and chase will be mostly on 4th day pitch. Also, Aus pacers are bit older as well. Over all, batting unit needs to believe that 300 can be chased. Hopefully chase is closer to 250 than 300.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Four ...... not a good stART. restricting runs is important

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Another ........ poor bowling. Hasan has been good in first innings

 

[emranabbas]

Carey is going for bad balls

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

we have chased 300 in test in the past?

 

[Markhor]

Two freebies from Hasan already.

 

[Suleiman]

Go for the kill Shan and co.

If they just knock it around like this they can get to 270-290 easy.

 

[emranabbas]

Need to try mir hamza can't afford freebies here

 

[7sins]

Nothing happening with the old ball

 

[7sins]

Pitch eased up a bit?

 

[Omer2002]

400 plus will be the target..

 

[160KPH]

Pitch and the old ball don’t seem to be doing much.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

Wicket has flattened out. A big test for the Pakistan medium fast seamers how they plan to take wickets with no lateral movement.

However, if they can restrict the chase to around 300, then they could chase it down as days 4 and 5 the wicket really flattens out.

 

[Asad T]

I don't get why Rizwan stands so back to Hasan Ali. Its been a theme for a while, and comms keep pointing it out. Surly, his placement should have already been sorted by now.

 

[emranabbas]

Hassan ali in odi mode

 

[7sins]

Why the hell you start with hassan

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Hasan give it away ..... bring in jamal

 

[160KPH]

So so close to being caught

 

[Buffet]

Can't let them knock them around for 1s and 2s.

 

[Seen Sheen]

Would have carried had there been a 3rd slip. Another lucky boundary

 

[emranabbas]

Slow reaction

 

[7sins]

Target is too much anything over 180 on this pitch is too much. That Marsh drop will hurt us for the rest of match

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Hasan Again ......... ??????

 

[Markhor]

Commentators having their own pub conversation. Cricket seemingly incidental.

 

[7sins]

Man hassan ali continues

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Commentators having their own pub conversation. Cricket seemingly incidental.

They have won it already according to them.

 

[emranabbas]

If we want a real chance need to restrict Australia to 300-350

With hassan ali at one end looks impossible

 

[shariqnoor]

They have already given up. Body language is completely flat. The players think they can't get these wickets.

 

[7sins]

Finally

 

[Suleiman]

Could’ve put him in the slips ages ago and we’d be en route to a victory.

 

[7sins]

Why the hell babar was not in the slips yesterday

 

[Buffet]

Get the last 3 quickly.

Babar should have been in slip yesterday.

 

[Seen Sheen]

Carey looks well-settled though. He can easily take this lead beyond 300 plus on his own. Need to try few bumpers against him from AJ.

 

[7sins]

God hassan ali again

 

[Suleiman]

Hope a 5fer for Shaheen. Slap on the face of his haters.

That too with him operating at 60-70%

 

[7sins]

Patethic captaincy by shan for saving mir hamza for the new ball

 

[Asad T]

Babar takes a catch at first slip to dismiss Starc early on Day 4. He should have been there earlier, but better late than never. His technique is so much better than Sahfiques

 

[Suleiman]

Intrusive thoughts saying Dropfique should’ve been there instead to break world record.

 

[Seen Sheen]

Cummins is most uncomfortable against short balls. He backs away and then tries to just swing the bat. Have to bowl short at him.

 

[Buffet]

Why Hamza is not bowling.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Mark Waugh: "I think this ground will be a bit easier to chase on."

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Inshallah we can chase it .

 

[Buffet]

Its a problem if they keep adding 20 runs per wicket.

 

[neonoir]

Have no idea why Hasan Ali is bowling he is literally bowling 75 mph. He's a trundler

 

[Buffet]

Not sure why Pakistan did not start with their two best bowlers in morning.

 

[Seen Sheen]

Good energy in this over from Shaheen.

 

[batandballbattle]

ball not doing too much today and we are looking decidedly tamer

 

[Markhor]

Please don't tell me Alex Carey picks now as the moment to play himself back into form.

 

[Seen Sheen]

Salman bowls too straight. He needs to bowl well outside off to threaten outside edge.

 

[Champ_Pal]

Finish them off before the lead crosses 300.

 

[emranabbas]

Positive is its only the tail enders

 

[Champ_Pal]

Cummins so underrated when it comes to his batting. He is a badger when defending the ball.

 

[7sins]

Dumb captaincy by shan

 

[Rana]

Pitch looks so flat now

 

[stani_pak]

score is beyond what Pak, can chase imo, aussie bowlers will wreck havoc

 

[batandballbattle]

could be chasing leather for a while here...

 

[Rana]

Level of intensity so poor by Pakistan

 

[pakcric091]

Fat cow running ĺike a duffer
can't run
Can't bat
Can't throw
Parchi ul haq
Watch imam run and throw is worse than watching à PIG

 

[Buffet]

9-10 runs kind of overs needs to be avoided otherwise 4-5 overs like this and 40-50 runs ... Hamza is at least tighter. Pakistan should have started with two best bowlers.

 

[castortroy]

Pak will get bundled out for about 170 here or it could be another score under 100

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Pak will get bundled out for about 170 here or it could be another score under 100

chup .....

 

[7sins]

Pak all out for 100 on the cards

 

[castortroy]

100%

 

[Buffet]

It seems Pakistan is waiting for new ball to have Hamza but what good it will do when batsmen have already added so many runs.

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

Pitch indicates if you spend time on it you can chase 300 ....

 

[tauseef_mahmood]

It seems Pakistan is waiting for new ball to have Hamza but what good it will do when batsmen have already added so many runs.

point

 

[emranabbas]

Dead pitch good for batting pak will chase this in no time

 

[castortroy]

Pitch indicates if you spend time on it you can chase 300 ....

Pitch indicates if you spend time on it you can chase 300 ....

Pak will be 50-4

Bookmark this

 

[Seen Sheen]

Looks like 325 plus target now.

 

[stani_pak]

cummins is he gone