Pakistan fightback to restrict Australia to 187/6 at Stumps on Day 3 of the 2nd Test

[Cricket Warrior]

At the end of a day marked by 13 wickets, the current state of the Test match is finely balanced. Pakistan initially held the upper hand in the first two sessions but the hosts made a strong comeback claiming 5 wickets in the final session.

Despite this, Pakistan maintains a deficit of 125 runs, keeping the game in the balance. After dismissing the hosts for 318, Pakistan's batting looked comfortable with Abdullah Shafique (62) and Shan Masood (54) appearing composed contributing a partnership of 90 for the second wicket.

However, Pat Cummins turned the tide with a double-wicket burst, removing Shafique and Babar Azam. Masood's dismissal followed a hasty shot and Saud Shakeel fell victim to Josh Hazlewood. Rizwan displaying a positive approach offers hope for Pakistan as they aim to narrow the gap towards Australia's first innings total. Cummins took three wickets while Lyon claimed two.

The question remains, Can Australia dismiss Pakistan quickly tomorrow morning and then attempt to dominate with the bat in the Test 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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[shokz1408]

Surprisingly Pakistan are in the game, if we can get to 275 atleast this could be interesting. Though we might struggle to chase 250 in the final innings.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Surely i am going to wake up that early for rizu.

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[Bilal Ahmad15]

Rizwan makes a 50

Aamer Jamal makes 10 runs in total

Hassan Ali hits some sixes and makes 20

Shaheen plays some fancy shots and makes 15

That will give Pakistan a score of around 260, which would be fantastic

 

[shaaik]

Is today also an early start ?

 

[Dawood_02]

Is today also an early start ?

There was some overnight and early morning rain in Melbourne. It's heavily overcast with the covers still in place. We might be in for a delayed start

 

[Asad T]

There was some overnight and early morning rain in Melbourne. It's heavily overcast with the covers still in place. We might be in for a delayed start

Arghh, if it's overcast it will be hard for us to narrow the deficit.

 

[Asad T]

10.00am "Umpires are coming out for a look. Aussies are beginning to warm up. Square covers are still on for the moment but should be peeled back shortly." And now the covers are coming off, so that's a positive development. Can see any umbrellas in the crowd. Joel Wilson having a chat to Pat Cummins.

Hopefully we start soon!

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Arghh, if it's overcast it will be hard for us to narrow the deficit.

With such overcast conditions we are hardly going to get max 220

 

[Dawood_02]

10:15 Local Time, 23:15 GMT, 04:45 IST: We're hearing that play will start at 10:45 am

 

[batandballbattle]

Rizz looking to be busy from the start, some good signs

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Confident start by Rizwan.

Let's see how long they will stretch the lead.

 

[Asad T]

Rizzy running in the middle of the wicket will not help us bat in the 4 inning

 

[Asad T]

Commentators on Rizwan:

Michael Vaughan: You need players who can take the opposition on...I'm surprised he didn't play [Rizwan] in the first test

Ian Smith: When I saw that Rizwan was not playing in the first match, I thought it was because he was injured. Instead, Pakistan went with the elder statesman

 

[Seen Sheen]

Got to say Aamir Jamal looks pretty decent with his defence. Always thought he was just a hitter who didn't know how to defend.

 

[Omer2002]

Got to say Aamir Jamal looks pretty decent with his defence. Always thought he was just a hitter who didn't know how to defend.

He needs to score a bit

 

[160KPH]

Commentators on Rizwan:

Michael Vaughan: You need players who can take the opposition on...I'm surprised he didn't play [Rizwan] in the first test

Ian Smith: When I saw that Rizwan was not playing in the first match, I thought it was because he was injured. Instead, Pakistan went with the elder statesman

Literally the entire world recognizes how good Rizwan is and particularly how much better he is than Sarfraz

 

[Suleiman]

AJ justifying the faith his investors have in him. Good work lad.

 

[batandballbattle]

lol they keep bringing up jamal's awkward ducking technique
needs to get his bat periscope out of the way though, can easily offer an easy catch!

 

[Suleiman]

AJ scoring at same rate as Imam… one is a bowling AR. The other a specialist opener. Worrying signs for Imam.

 

[Seen Sheen]

He needs to score a bit

It's alright I would say. He is holding up an end. If he goes for the expansive shots then he might get out.

 

[Asad T]

lol they keep bringing up jamal's awkward ducking technique
needs to get his bat periscope out of the way though, can easily offer an easy catch!

 

[Asad T]

AJ scoring at same rate as Imam… one is a bowling AR. The other a specialist opener. Worrying signs for Imam.

I'm suddently not so worried about the new ball

 

[Omer2002]

It's alright I would say. He is holding up an end. If he goes for the expansive shots then he might get out.

True i guess but rizzy cant do anything else i think..by doing this he will eventually poke n get out

 

[160KPH]

We need to bat out at least the next 20 overs.. probably another 10 overs or so and then the next 10 over period will probably be the best 10 over period we have for batting since the ball will be old and they may try to conserve their mainline fast bowlers for the new ball.

And then hopefully when the ball is hard, our all rounders and tail can play some shots.

 

[160KPH]

I’m so nervous about that 100 run lead mark..

 

[Seen Sheen]

AJ frustrating the Aussies with his blockathon!

 

[Buffet]

These two will come out of attack after few overs. Just need to hold tight.

 

[Suleiman]

Can get to 300 if we lock in In Sha Allah.

Very very doable. No loose shots or run outs.

 

[Asad T]

Ufff, almost runout

 

[Asad T]

The one time Jamal doesn't duck haha

 

[AAli98]

Commentators on Rizwan:

Michael Vaughan: You need players who can take the opposition on...I'm surprised he didn't play [Rizwan] in the first test

Ian Smith: When I saw that Rizwan was not playing in the first match, I thought it was because he was injured. Instead, Pakistan went with the elder statesman

They probably having a chuckle who on earth was he dropped for.

 

[Seen Sheen]

First time in a long time I am seeing Cummins having a word with the batter. AJ getting under their skin!

 

[lontje]

Aussie commentators complaining about the physics coming out

 

[Suleiman]

First time in a long time I am seeing Cummins having a word with the batter. AJ getting under their skin!

Yep. Cummins is almost always a nice guy. AJ breaking them down at a psychological level.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Shouldn't these commentators worry about the welfare of the player. Obnoxious stuff.

 

[Seen Sheen]

Aussie commentators complaining about the physics coming out

It's mostly Mark Waugh, the resident 12th man for Aussies who is always seemingly looking for reasons to complain about opposition's antics.

 

[Suleiman]

What a 4!! They messed with the wrong Jamal

 

[Asad T]

Michael Vaughan: "Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan have been the two batters who have put Australia under some pressure."

 

[Seen Sheen]

Smacks the short delivery well infront of square; woken up the sleeping lion!

 

[Asad T]

Love how the comms are making fun of Jamal for getting the physio after getting hit on the back.
Then Jamal hits a four
Wark Waugh: Looks like the physio has loosened him up well!

 

[Rana]

Soft

But I guess well played

 

[Rana]

Rizzy running in the middle of the wicket will not help us bat in the 4 inning

As if he understands cricket like that

 

[Omer2002]

Soft soft dismissal...been so many in this innings but i guess nothing new..

 

[castortroy]

Rizwan offside play is awful. Doesn't move his feet towards the delivery

 

[Buffet]

Fielder was there for the exact catch ,,, playing on the up.

 

[CerebralPatriot]

Pathetic batting from Rizwan. When the team needs him he always throws his wicket away

 

[batandballbattle]

ahhhh fgds
needed to take it deeper, much deeper
soft soft dismissal

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Get 250 !!!

 

[Omer2002]

Fielder was there for the exact catch ,,, playing on the up.

Not one but there were two fielders there even now for shaheen they have two on leg side....they keep setting traps and we fall for them all our lives.

 

[Suleiman]

Can Shaheen and AJ pull a Wasim and Imran here?

 

[Suleiman]

None of these bozos can score more than 50. No durability or ability to concentrate for long periods. Brain fart comes on after 50-70 deliveries on average

 

[Rana]

Can’t play on the off. No clue what to do as soon as you cut off his leg

 

[topspin]

Well played Rizwan but he needs to improve his offside batting.

 

[Buffet]

Not one but there were two fielders there even now for shaheen they have two on leg side....they keep setting traps and we fall for them all our lives.

Yah, it was a trap set and he fell for it.

 

[Suleiman]

Shaheen is more brave than half our batting line up.

 

[Buffet]

Take on Lyon. Play some shots.

 

[gazza619]

A ton of misfortunate comes Pakistan’s way whenever Wasim Akram comes on commentary.

 

[castortroy]

Well played Rizwan but he needs to improve his offside batting.

Not really a test batter but I guess pak have no other real options

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Lead less than 100 now. Ideally they get another 20-30 runs.

 

[Buffet]

40 runs here will do. Lead will be 50 then.

 

[160KPH]

Inshallah Aamer Jamal will take us to the lead

 

[castortroy]

Akram must be one of the worst commentators to listen to.

Always staying the obvious

 

[Suleiman]

Decimate Marsh and Lyon. Badtameezi unlimited for both. No respect for either.

 

[jattafridi]

Superman Cummins relax we are friends

Can Pakistan score 250

 

[Buffet]

Another 20 runs and it's 250 runs. Just play shots against Lyon. Take 8-10 runs in over. 3-4 overs and 40 runs ...

 

[batandballbattle]

shaheen playing his shots!

 

[Rana]

looks like it will be overcast all day

Bring deficit down to 50ish

Try bowling Aussies out tonight

 

[Human786]

these 2 are batting well , deficit down to 87 . Bad weather ahead ?

 

[Buffet]

Lyon is the over to score runs. With wet ball it's going to be harder for him.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Why can't they try and score rather than just blocking or get hit on the body.

They're still over 80 behind try smashing a few who knows they might get it down to 50 by the time they're all out.

 

[Asad T]

Why can't they try and score rather than just blocking or get hit on the body.

They're still over 80 behind try smashing a few who knows they might get it down to 50 by the time they're all out.

Shaheen is trying. Jamal has stepped it up half a gear after riz got out haha

 

[Rana]

Jee oye Shaheen

Maar puttar maar!!

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Pak should get the deficit down to under 50. Shaheen is key

 

[Buffet]

Good from Shaheen...

 

[Human786]

Starc leaking ...

 

[stani_pak]

Shaheen goes past is best score in test cricket which was 19, currently at 21 runs how more can he get

 

[Buffet]

80 runs left ... Few more shots and it will be 50.

 

[batandballbattle]

reminds me of the old afridi lol
chancing his arm a bit but useful runs all the same

 

[Asad T]

Love the fly-slip