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Report - 1st Test, Day 3 : Australia in a position of strength after setting Pakistan massive target

Abdullah719

T20I Captain
Joined
Apr 16, 2013
Runs
44,825
Toss: Australia won the toss, Steve Smith opted to bat first.

Teams

Australia: MT Renshaw, DA Warner, UT Khawaja, SPD Smith (c), PSP Handscomb, NJ Maddinson, MS Wade (wk), MA Starc, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon, JM Bird.

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali.

Pakistan began the day in a horrible position but Sarfraz and Amir fought out the first few overs as they combined to put on a fifty partnership. It was Bird who broke through as Amir was given caught behind via a smart review from Smith for 21. Sarfraz got to a fighting fifty and then got a life as Maddinson grassed a chance in the deep. The innings came to an end as Rahat struggled between the wickets, getting run out with Sarfraz stranded on 59*. Australia opted to bat again rather than enforce the follow-on despite taking a 287 run lead.

Australia's innings got off to a flier as Warner took Amir for 12 off the first over, but the pacer had the last laugh in his next over as he hurried warner into a pull which was caught at mid-on. Rahat got reward for a good opening spell as well as he had Renshaw nicking to Younis in the slips with a good delivery that moved away from the batsman. Misbah opted to take a review for caught behind against Smith on the next delivery but the ball had grazed the pad on the way through to the keeper. Amir continued testing the batsmen from the other end but Pakistan couldn't make the breakthrough as Australia went to Tea at 40/2.

Pakistan took another review off Wahab's bowling for LBW against Smith but it was just in the margin for umpires call. Smith took the attack the the Pakistan bowlers as Australia began to bat in an aggressive manner, hitting fours on a regular basis. Smith got to his fifty off just 59 balls while Khawaja played some serence shots from the other end. Smith's innings finally came to an end as he tried to loft Yasir for a big shot and gave a simple catch to Rahat at long-on. Khawaja reached a 92-ball fifty, yet another good knock in Australia as Pakistan resorted to the part-time leg-spin of Azhar Ali. A few overs later, Khawaja fell for 74 as he tried to pull one from Rahat and lobbed it towards the mid-on region where Misbah took a tumbling catch. Handscomb was aggressive from the start while Maddinson hit one four before he fell to a Wahab bouncer, giving a catch to Babar at long leg. Australia finished the session at 202/5 and declared during the interval, setting Pakistan a target of 490 runs in the fourth innings.

Pakistan began their second innings in a more positive manner as Azhar and Sami looked to rotate the strike more often and put the bad balls away. They were fairly untroubled for the first few overs as 31 runs were scored in the first 9 overs. However, Australia strung together a slew of maidens, six in a row at one point as Sami became the first to fall, edging Starc to Renshaw at slip for 15. The batsmen finally managed to rotate the strike a little but Hazlewood in particular was difficult to get away, bowling an immaculate line. Lyon came on to bowl and troubled Babar straight away, with Australia taking a review for a catch down the leg-side - but there was no nick. Lyon got some spin and bounce out of the rough against Babar and that soon resulted in a wicket as one that went straight on took the edge, with Smith taking a sharp catch at slip. Hazlewood was still very tough to get away with Younis failing to get off the mark but Azhar seemed to gain confidence towards the end of the day, taking Bird for three fours in an over and finishing on 41* as Pakistan ended the day at 70/2, needing another 420 runs to win.

Summary: A better show put up by the Pakistan batsmen in the second innings but Australia are still well in control. With showers forecasted for Day 4, Pakistan will hope for the day to be rained out and then bat out Day 5 - the chances of that happening are very slim. Sarfraz showed fight at the start of the day but when Australia opted to bat again, it was tough for the Pakistan bowlers despite bowling good opening spells. The batsmen went on the attack and the bowlers were short of ideas. Australia's declaration at Dinner meant that Pakistan would have to pull-off an improbable world-record chase to win the match. Azhar Ali was solid while Younis Khan survived, though he's still on a pair. Though a loss is still the most likely outcome, it was still heartening to see the batsmen show a little more fight.

Fall of wickets:

9-121 (Mohammad Amir, 50.4 ov)
10-142 (Rahat Ali, 54.6 ov)

1-12 (Warner, 2.2 ov)
2-24 (Renshaw, 5.4 ov)
3-135 (Smith, 29.4 ov),
4-188 (Khawaja, 36.5 ov)
5-199 (Maddinson, 37.5 ov)

1-31 (Sami Aslam, 11.3 ov)
2-54 (Babar Azam, 26.2 ov)
 
If we can get at least get to 300 it'd give me confidence heading into the MCG and SCG Tests and show the batting is adapting to the conditions.
 
Pakistan has had a huge session despite the loss of two wickets. We saw the the relatively easy batting conditions during the day. Well done Azhar ali.
 
If we chase 490, it will go down as the greatest chase in the history of cricket.
 
What gives me confidence is that the next 2 test matches wont be bowled under lights. There wont be that much movement through the air.
Im sure that our betsmen will do much better then they did in this test match in sha Allah.
 
If Pakistan bat out two days, how can it be a draw :13:

Then again, this is Pakistan.

We might score only 30 runs in a session.

The guys should think of this as an extended net session. Golden opportunity to get some form. And yes I expect we will score barely 30 runs in the first session tomorrow. And I am perfectly ok with that if we lose no wickets
 
Sarfraz will give two chances in his knock of 50.

Having said that it will come in ultra quick time.

Choose your pick.

The chances of Pakistan batting out a draw are minuscule. Sarfraz could get an aggressive 100 to take the sting out of the aussie bowlers though. He's a positive aggressive player who could help change the flow of the game and make the other batsmen feel more confident and comfortable going out to bat.

And he looks to be in good form, especially compared to the other two.

I think a Misbah 2 runs off 30 balls isn't going to help anyone.
 
A better day. Still in a hopeless position.

Only hope is a YK double and Azhar century.

If Australia break this partnership early tomorrow we might collapse.
 
It's like Ian Chappell said on commentary about the Pak batting lineup - apart from YK in his heyday there aren't a lot of batsman who score big runs at a damaging pace.

Sarfraz has 3 centuries coming in down the order to go along with 10 fifties at a great strike rate. I remember that innings he played against SL to set up the win.

He's a much more dangerous player than Shafiq imo and could be higher up the order, just as he now bats higher up in ODIs.
 
If Pakistan bat out two days, how can it be a draw :13:

Then again, this is Pakistan.

We might score only 30 runs in a session.

Let's forget about the result, there is no way this match ends up in anything other than an Australian victory.

However that doesn't mean there's nothing to be gained from this Test match. If Pakistani batsmen can pick up some form in this 2nd inns - that would be huge in building confidence heading into the MCG and SCG Tests where the conditions won't be as difficult as in Brisbane.
 
If we chase 490, it will go down as the greatest chase in the history of cricket.

Err.....We are neither winning or drawing this game mate !!

Let's be realistic here guys !! This has an Australian win written all over it and I'd be glad if we somehow manage to stretch the game until 2nd or even 1st session of Day 5.....

However, if we do manage to draw or win this I will probably do a victory lap all across Johor Bahru :)) Might as well cross over to Singapore and sing Dil Dil Pakistan during the run :D
 
Don't see us winning or drawing this. Just hope Azhar and Sarfraz get decent scores.
 
Err.....We are neither winning or drawing this game mate !!

Let's be realistic here guys !! This has an Australian win written all over it and I'd be glad if we somehow manage to stretch the game until 2nd or even 1st session of Day 5.....

However, if we do manage to draw or win this I will probably do a victory lap all across Johor Bahru :)) Might as well cross over to Singapore and sing Dil Dil Pakistan during the run :D

I am never optimistic.

Jo aik din optimistic hua for a change, tow apnon ny hi dhoka dey dya...

Go out there.

You never know.

Cricket is a funny game, maybe Younis Khan will be hitting 300 tomorrow.
 
The chances of Pakistan batting out a draw are minuscule. Sarfraz could get an aggressive 100 to take the sting out of the aussie bowlers though. He's a positive aggressive player who could help change the flow of the game and make the other batsmen feel more confident and comfortable going out to bat.

And he looks to be in good form, especially compared to the other two.

I think a Misbah 2 runs off 30 balls isn't going to help anyone.

I am not against the idea but it won't happen.

Misbah doesn't shuffle his order and he is probably due in next to prevent the collapse if a wicket falls early.

Also if it did happen, Sarfraz will probably not be so lucky as he was twice (missed an easy stumping by Wade and also Maddinson dropping an easy catch off a sweep) and will probably fall quickly instead of getting a 100.

Think of it this way.

If you send Umar Akmal in this situation there is 1 in 10 chance that Umar will play more than 40 balls, but there is almost a 10 in 10 chance that he will be 40 plus off those 40 balls.

Same would be with Sarfraz.

He may end up playing 30-40 balls but his score will be more than Misbah who will be usually 3 off 40 balls.
 
I am not against the idea but it won't happen.

Misbah doesn't shuffle his order and he is probably due in next to prevent the collapse if a wicket falls early.

Also if it did happen, Sarfraz will probably not be so lucky as he was twice (missed an easy stumping by Wade and also Maddinson dropping an easy catch off a sweep) and will probably fall quickly instead of getting a 100.

Think of it this way.

If you send Umar Akmal in this situation there is 1 in 10 chance that Umar will play more than 40 balls, but there is almost a 10 in 10 chance that he will be 40 plus off those 40 balls.

Same would be with Sarfraz.

He may end up playing 30-40 balls but his score will be more than Misbah who will be usually 3 off 40 balls.

No, of course it won't happen....this is Misbah we're talking about that's captain.
 
I want Younis to score a daddy hundred and Misbah to get some time in the middle.

If we did somehow win this, undoubtably greatest chase of all time out of any format.
 
Azhar played well i hope everyone just bat positive go after bad deliveries there is no draw here it's either win or lose
 
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