Australia close on 505/8 at the end of Day 2 in Karachi

[Energy]

Shaheen's got way too much hair to look after rather than concentrate on where to land the ball.

 

[Rana]

Got a weird feeling Australia are punishing Pakistan for not even trying in the first Test and keeping Australia out in the field for 9 sessions

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Got a weird feeling Australia are punishing Pakistan for not even trying in the first Test and keeping Australia out in the field for 9 sessions

Yes. Pakistan looked to tire Australia and now Australia are looking to tire Pakistan out I suppose.

 

[Energy]

Pakistan are getting bullied and beaten in their own backyard.

 

[Cric1234]

Another 5 overs then declare with 480 plus and scoreboard pressure almost no chance of a loss for Australia from here.

 

[Omer2002]

Why is no body mentioning these twi trundlers bowling right now but when naseem plays everybody is on his case

 

[Hassaan HS]

A cracking delivery from Nauman Ali.

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ihujvj" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[realitygaf]

Naseem Shah bowled better than Shaheen and Hassan Ali in a deader Pindi pitch than these two have bowled in Karachi

 

[Villager6964]

Rameez Raja should be held accountable for these awful pitches.
Nobody wants to watch this borefest.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

Pakistan are getting bullied and beaten in their own backyard.

If you call slow batting with run rate <3 as bullying then you are mistaken. Both teams are playing defensive cricket and are afraid to lose. Pakistan is getting all the flak because they are the home team which prepared slow and dead tracks to nullify Cummins and Starc. Pakistan also avoided preparing rank turners because they were afraid Lyon will outbowl Sajid and Nauman and i don't blame them. India wins home tests on rank turners all the time but lost to England in 2012 when Panesar and Swann gave us a test of our medicine.

 

[Rana]

If Babar can’t produce a meaningful innings on this, he needs to be sacked as captain!

 

[Cric1234]

I don’t think they want to declare bat full day score over 500 is probably the target here.

 

[ARK Rafay]

I don’t think they want to declare bat full day score over 500 is probably the target here.

Draw is a win for them here. I see this match also drawing

 

[mrtaim3]

Don't understand the tactics behind this slow and defensive approach.

 

[Cric1234]

Draw is a win for them here. I see this match also drawing

Not if your number 1 team you should always have a winning mentality and back your bowlers to use the big score and scoreboard pressure to bowl out the other team.

 

[ExpressPacer]

How many chances have we missed in this innings so far?

 

[Thanos]

Not if your number 1 team you should always have a winning mentality and back your bowlers to use the big score and scoreboard pressure to bowl out the other team.

I think this applies to home team as well.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Starc playing for his 100 which will come up before lunch on the 4th day

 

[Energy]

Australia not declaring is a ruthless statement. The body language of Pakistan players is down and out.

 

[Rana]

2 drops by Nauman now

 

[Rana]

Australia not declaring is a ruthless statement. The body language of Pakistan players is down and out.

But when Pakistan do it it’s timid and cowardly?

 

[Asif321]

Are people really watching this ?

 

[ExpressPacer]

What in the world… yet another drop. This makes you not want to watch the game.

 

[ExpressPacer]

How many catches have we dropped so far?

 

[ARK Rafay]

Not if your number 1 team you should always have a winning mentality and back your bowlers to use the big score and scoreboard pressure to bowl out the other team.

Of course they would love a win. But the way they have gone by the game they are looking to try and win the game on Day 5. Putting Pakistan on the spot to see if they can prevent a lose. Draw is most likely result from here.

 

[Sarwar89]

Pakistan is lucky that Cummins has not declared. Had Imam and Shafique need to negotiate 15-20 overs, it coukd have been tricky.

Our batters can have good night sleep and aim to score 300+ slowly to take time out of the equation. Once we avoud follow on. This game is dusted and draw. Off to Gaddafi for decider.

 

[Energy]

But when Pakistan do it it’s timid and cowardly?

Australia will get a result in this match. What Pakistan did in the previous game was miskeen strategy.

 

[Markhor]

2 drops by Nauman now

Apart from Faheem's slip catch, there's been zero intensity in the field.

Fielders caught on their heels allowing easy singles, casually laughing and joking with the Aussies.

 

[Energy]

Ball following chachu who has now resorted to emulating Ronaldo on a cricket field.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

Butter fingers Hassan Ali at it again)
Cost Pak the series against West indies and possibly T20 world cup.

 

[Omer2002]

Naseem Shah bowled better than Shaheen and Hassan Ali in a deader Pindi pitch than these two have bowled in Karachi

Exactly my point...i mean its not thr bowlers fault its a dead wicket

 

[Energy]

Sajid giving a glare lol, after being smashed for a DLF maximum.

 

[Rana]

Apart from Faheem's slip catch, there's been zero intensity in the field.

Fielders caught on their heels allowing easy singles, casually laughing and joking with the Aussies.

Why don’t we address the elephant in the room, who sets these standards of intensity? It’s the captain and the keeper. Rizwan has set no standards whatsoever! He is more worried about hugging Smith and Labushange for the instagram stories than actually switching on and setting the intensity level as a keeper!

 

[PakPremi]

I think this applies to home team as well.

Home team is not the one that is batting.

 

[Rana]

Don’t mind if Azhar Ali scores a 1000 ball 300 in the next 2 days

 

[Energy]

Pitch will be out of equation when Pakistan bat. False shots, lose shots, everything will be on the cards.

 

[Gilly]

Home team is not the one that is batting.

Home team is bowling, are they just waiting for the batsmen to declare. Why don't they just bowl them out instead of asking for mercy declarations.

 

[PakPremi]

Pitch will be out of equation when Pakistan bat. False shots, lose shots, everything will be on the cards.

That was not the case last match.

 

[Energy]

That was not the case last match.

Last match was fun batting first. Now we're chasing the game. Watch our batsmen fold.

 

[Torborg]

Snooze fest. This series is such a disappointment.

 

[Thanos]

Home team is not the one that is batting.

It was batting in first match and did exactly same. How can anyone expect visitors to do differently then. Visitor team always try safety first approach to avoid defeat.
The onus is always on host team to dictate terms.

 

[Saj]

This has felt like a case of 'score as many as you want and bat for as long as you want'

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Poor from Carey. Looking for that ton. Would have been better to look to bat 40 overs tomorrow as well and bring Pakistan to their knees .

 

[Gilly]

This has felt like a case of 'score as many as you want and bat for as long as you want'

Thats what happens when you present this type of pitch. If you want better cricket then the pitch needs to be better.

 

[realitygaf]

I can tell you right now that if Langer was still coach, Australia would have declared 10 overs ago

 

[Rajdeep]

Thats what happens when you present this type of pitch. If you want better cricket then the pitch needs to be better.

Your team's approach is also to be blamed as much as the pitch. Australia should have batted more assertively and declared by tea time today. Bizarre cricket really

 

[Arsal_AK]

Australia are batting Pakistan out of the game. I wouldnt be shocked if our batsmen fold with 500 on the board.

 

[Inswinging Yorker]

What a useless pitch. The tactic to blunt Australia bowling attack backfired.

 

[Amjid Javed]

We are going to need atleast 300+ to avoid a follow on or any sort of huge deficit when we come to bat tomorrow.

 

[Arsal_AK]

Your team's approach is also to be blamed as much as the pitch. Australia should have batted more assertively and declared by tea time today. Bizarre cricket really

Not really, they wanted to be in a position where they can't lose. And this is pretty much it. They are happy with a draw with a slight chance of a win. They get WTC points where Pakistan won't have expected them to get any.

 

[Gilly]

Your team's approach is also to be blamed as much as the pitch. Australia should have batted more assertively and declared by tea time today. Bizarre cricket really

Blame my team all you want, put up sub standard pitches and you get sub standard cricket regardless of which country it is in.

 

[Energy]

Another day that made Pakistan team look like Zimbabwe. Methodical bowling alongside poetic fielding

 

[Moiz14]

Man this is a torture of a series... I wish we better had lost the series instead of going through this pain... This is beyond explaination stuff... Really feel for those who have spent their money and time and went to stadium to watch this horrific series... SHAME ON US BEING THIS TIMID

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

Just feel all that criticism of pak in the first test was unjustified. Aus have similr score in similar overs, actuallty aus are slower. Starc's innings has sucked the oxygen of the test.

 

[gani999]

Your team's approach is also to be blamed as much as the pitch. Australia should have batted more assertively and declared by tea time today. Bizarre cricket really

This being their home ground, I expected Pakistan to be way more aggressive. Good teams are usually unforgiving on their home ground. Pakistan seems really docile here.

 

[Markhor]

7th consecutive day of utterly drab, dull Test cricket.

 

[Cric1234]

Just feel all that criticism of pak in the first test was unjustified. Aus have similr score in similar overs, actuallty aus are slower. Starc's innings has sucked the oxygen of the test.

They haven’t lost much at best one wicket could’ve been picked up by their bowlers by scoring 500 they have put more pressure on Pakistans batsmen.

No surprise if one of their spinners pick up five wickets and we make the pitch look lively tomorrow.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

99 overs from Sajid and Nauman got only 3 wickets and gave away 260 runs..

Thats a serious issue with the spinners

 

[ask_analyse_act]

This being their home ground, I expected Pakistan to be way more aggressive. Good teams are usually unforgiving on their home ground. Pakistan seems really docile here.

Because they are minnow level compared to Aus as a test team..

They can flex their muscles only against WI, BAN and ZIM.. Against Aus they will be in their knees looking up..

 

[Rajdeep]

Meanwhile Pant is batting at a strike rate of 200 in other test match. His innings alone is more entertaining than this entire series so far

 

[Torborg]

There's no reason to declare.

 

[Manunited18]

Can't blame the Australians in any way. Bottom line is this another pathetic Test wicket, Pcb and all talk Ramiz are responsible for this shower. They were counting the coffers with the thought of flat Roads which will see the Test last the whole 5 days with healthy attendance.

 

[Cric_lover4487]

I am hoping Babar scoring a cracking century tomorrow to bring some excitement.

 

[Cric1234]

Meanwhile Pant is batting at a strike rate of 200 in other test match. His innings alone is more entertaining than this entire series so far

When we have batsmen like Umar Akmal and Haider Ali not being considered for test cricket entertainment values are low with Pakistans batting this team will be lucky to win one match outside Asia next time.

 

[Manunited18]

The only positive for Pakistan has been they have controlled the run rate apart from the flukey inning by Lyon of mishits ans edges to boundaries.
Pakistan missing Yasir big time. Not sure why Fawad never gets a chance.

Because they are minnow level compared to Aus as a test team..

They can flex their muscles only against WI, BAN and ZIM.. Against Aus they will be in their knees looking up..

I'm pretty certain pakistan beat south Africa, who have recently beaten India, drew in new Zealand, and beat Australia home and away.

 

[Cric1234]

I'm pretty certain pakistan beat south Africa, who have recently beaten India, drew in new Zealand, and beat Australia home and away.

South Africa has been poor in Asia check their record it wasn’t a big achievement to beat them at home.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

What in the world… yet another drop. This makes you not want to watch the game.

dropped by the 50 yrd old spinner...he must have started playing cricket along with Yousuf, Younis i think

 

[ask_analyse_act]

When we have batsmen like Umar Akmal and Haider Ali not being considered for test cricket entertainment values are low with Pakistans batting this team will be lucky to win one match outside Asia next time.

 

[Kianig89]

Finally the series may come alive tomorrow with Pakistan batting 500 on the board will be a test of character let's see how our batter perform

 

[transparent opacity]

Khawaja, Carey extend Australia’s dominance on another batting friendly day


Australia batters continued to make hay on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against Pakistan in Karachi, finishing strongly at 505/8.

Usman Khawaja continued his fine form with a gritty 160, while Alex Carey stroked a fluent 93 to help Australia cross the 500-run mark by the end of the second day’s play in Karachi.

Australia enjoyed a fine start to the day, with Khawaja and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon combining for a 54-run fourth-wicket stand. Lyon, who was given a reprieve on the final ball of Day 1, had a scratchy start, surviving a close leg-before call against Hasan Ali during the third over of the day, before an inside edge raced past the stumps towards the fine leg boundary.

He continued to frustrate the hosts during the opening hour, sweeping Nauman Ali with disdain while also taking on Shaheen Afridi’s short-pitched stuff with audacious pull strokes. Faheem Ashraf finally castled the right-hander, not before he’d struck five fours during a valuable 62-ball 38.

Khawaja, meanwhile, extended his solid presence at the other end and reached his third 150-plus score in Test cricket with a single towards fine-leg. Australia headed to lunch at 332/4.

Sajid Khan gave Pakistan an opening early into the second session, when he had Travis Head trapped leg-before for 23. As Sajid troubled Cameron Green with a low and awkward bounce from his end, Shaheen bowled with great pace and aggression at the other while smartly mixing his lengths.

It was the off-spinner who finally breached Khawaja’s defence, knocking the top of off stump with one that drifted just enough to end a nearly nine-hour long stay for 160. It’s now the second-highest score by an Australia opener in Pakistan, surpassing Bob Simpson’s 153 at the same venue in 1964, with Mark Taylor’s 334* (Peshawar, 1998) occupying the pole position.

Green and Alex Carey then carried on for 15.1 overs, with the former showing some intent against Nauman Ali with a six and a four, before being knocked over by the same bowler for 28. It was a relatively fruitful session for Pakistan, which saw three wickets go down for 75 with Australia positioned at 407/7 at the Tea break.

The hosts continued to toil hard during the final session, but couldn’t quite get the desired results with another 98 runs being added.

Carey stitched a half-century stand with Mitchell Starc and got to his second Test fifty in the process, guiding Australia past 450. The wicketkeeper-batter switched gears during the final hour of day’s play, especially against Sajid, who he tonked for a six over cow corner while playing the occasional reverse sweeps. With two overs left in the day’s play and a maiden Test ton in sight, the left-hander went for a sweep across the line against Babar Azam’s off-break, only to see his stumps rattled when on 93.

Australia, rather surprisingly, continued to bat on, with Starc and skipper Pat Cummins walking off unbeaten on 28 and 0 respectively at stumps.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2529676

 

[sweep_shot]

Australia have put themselves in a great position. They are unlikely to lose this game now.

 

[Manunited18]

The only positive for Pakistan has been they have controlled the run rate apart from the flukey inning by Lyon of mishits ans edges to boundaries.
Pakistan missing Yasir big time. Not sure why Fawad never gets a chance.

South Africa has been poor in Asia check their record it wasn’t a big achievement to beat them at home.

But they are a good side. They've drawn in new Zealand, (the so called big teams havent), and have beaten Australia home and away as well as beating a India side at home, so irrespective of struggling in asia they are one of the best test teams around on current form.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

Are people really watching this ?

People have wayyyyy too much time it seems. I cant make myself watch a over of this.

 

[Sami92]

99 overs from Sajid and Nauman got only 3 wickets and gave away 260 runs..

Thats a serious issue with the spinners

I miss Yasir Shah.

 

[MenInG]

Highlights:

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/6jpr2s" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[Bilal Ahmad15]

Australia is still batting after two days????

Once again, after 2 days, pretty much only one innings

 

[jnaveen1980]

Draws will hurt TC points.

 

[ARK Rafay]

Instead of cleaning up the tail by bowling pacers for the last wicket, the team went for spinners. Hilarious stuff. 50+ more runs added