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Report - 1st Test, Day 4 : Pakistan fight back through Asad Shafiq's unbeaten hundred

Abdullah719

T20I Captain
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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.

The day began with Azhar struggling to find runs in the face of some tight bowling, but Younis was enterprising despite his struggles against the pacers as he began to tick the strike over on a regular basis. There was a moment of concern as Hazlewood bowled a bouncer to Azhar which smashed him on the helmet and neck region - he recovered after some refreshments were taken. Bird induced an edge from Younis but it fell short as Azhar finally reached his fifty off 146 deliveries - yet another fighting knock by the batsman. Australia tried the left-arm spin of Maddinson for a couple of overs without success before the groundsmen decided to cover the square due to some ominous clouds with Tea taken early, Pakistan 131/2.

The break turned out to be an extended one with rain pouring down regularly - however, the excellent drainage system ensured that play began soon after, with just over one and a half hour's delay. Azhar was more positive after the interval as he drove Starc and Hazlewood for a couple of fours but a few short balls from the former got him in a tangle, as he ended up nicking one down the leg-side after a solid knock of 71 from 179 balls. There was soon another delay due to rain but it was a shortened one, with Younis reaching his fifty after the resumption. Younis tried to continue being positive but Misbah struggled at the other end. Australia took a review for LBW against the Pakistan captain but there was a big inside-edge. Bird finally had him out caught behind, as Misbah chased one outside off and got a thin edge through to the keeper. Younis was the next to fall for 67 as he tried to reverse sweep Lyon but the bounce resulted in him getting a top edge which was easily pouched by Smith. Shafiq managed to get a few runs after his earlier struggles while Sarfraz looked to play his shots as Australia took the 2nd new ball - Pakistan went ot the dinner break at 203/5.

The first over after the interval saw Sarfraz nick one from Hazlewood, only for Smith to grass one in the slips. The drop didn't prove too costly as Starc returned to clean up Sarfraz's stumps with a full delivery, out for 24. He bowled a couple of excellent deliveries to follow up to Amir. He continued bowling a fiery spell, exchanging some words with Amir but the batsmen soon got going. Shafiq top-edged a hook for six against Hazlewood while Amir hit a few flowing drives through the off-side. Shafiq got to his fifty, a crucial knock to indicate that he is back in form after a torrid run recently. Amir continued on his merry way until he eventually fell to the tight bowling of Bird as he nicked one behind for 48. Wahab looked very tentative at the start against Starc's pace but he grew into the game as well as the Pakistani tail continued to wag. Shafiq continued batting aggressively and it almost cost him as he drove one off Starc but Smith again grassed the catch. Thereafter, the batsmen feasted on the tired bowlers as Wahab took Lyon for a couple of sixes as the Australians took the extra half hour at the end of the day. Shafiq kept ticking over and brought up his hundred in the last over of the day but there was time for another twist as Wahab nicked one with Smith finally taking a catch, out for 30. Pakistan finished the day at 382/8, their highest fourth-innings total and the highest at the Gabba - they need a further unlikely 108 to win.

Summary: A day where Pakistan have fought back and shown that can compete with Australia. Azhar was gritty as usual while Younis stuck it out despite his struggles. But at 175/5, one would've though it was all over but the lower-order showed great fight to keep Pakistan in the match - a win for Pakistan is still the most unlikely outcome, with a draw a close second and Australia are heavy favourites. But this day will give Pakistan a much-needed confidence boost heading into the 2nd Test, not to mention the heavy workload of the Australian bowlers which may play a part later on in the series.

Fall of wickets:

3-145 (Azhar Ali, 59.6 ov)
4-165 (Misbah-ul-Haq, 69.5 ov)
5-173 (Younis Khan, 74.3 ov)
6-220 (Sarfraz Ahmed, 87.3 ov)
7-312 (Mohammad Amir, 106.4 ov)
8-378 (Wahab Riaz, 122.3 ov)
 
Glorious day's Cricket. Enthralling viewing and it's heartwarming to see such competitiveness and determination alive and well in such testing scenarios. I sincerely hope this intensity from both sides remains through the rest of the series.
 
I am so impressed with this fight back. We should be proud of the team performance tonight. Only if they have shown good attacking approach in the first inning and we could have won this game. Pakistan must get out the fear of losing against Australia. Only then we wil beat them. Asad should bat at no.3 and let babar at 6. Poor kid is put up against Aussies on his first tour as 1 down, its not fair let him bat lower down where is less pressure on him and so he can play with freedom. Or else younis must put his hands up and say i will come 1 down.
 
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Australian bowlers will be really tired and play will start early tomorrow which means more daylight hours which will help the batsmen. We should use that to our advantage. If we just try to play out the 1st session I'd reckon the AUS bowlers will be under HUGE pressure and we could win but its unlikely but PAK isn't exactly the team that you can predict.

If there is one team in this world that can chase 490 after being shot out for 142 in the 1st innings, it is Pakistan.

Still, this kind of effort demands immense respect. Well played boys. :14:
 
Backing Rahat to hit the winning runs tomorrow.
 
Great fight by Pakistan..
But can someone explain me to why umpires took extra half hour?
 
Certainly not the most skillful side but they are tenacious and resilient. Although, I doubt very much that tomorrow will be anything different from an Australian victory, this effort today should boost morale and confidence. After a succession of low scores, it was vital that they got a decent score. And they have scored the bulk of the runs under lights on what is likely to be the bounciest of the pitches that they will encounter in the series. That should give the team belief for the rest of the series.

The second thing about the performance is that Younis, Azhar and Shafiq spent a fair bit of time in the middle. Given the lack of matches in Australia prior to the first Test, that is valuable time getting accustomed to the conditions. Shafiq was brilliant and it was the intent he showed that really stood out – he was looking for quick singles throughout. He now has a Test century in Australia, South Africa and England. Saeed Anwar has achieved this for Pakistan, but I can’t remember any others.

The third thing is that they made Australia toil and Starc and Hazelwood had to bowl a lot of overs.
 
Yasir shah has 6 first class 50s
Rahat ali has zero (hishest test score of 35*)
I still think rahat ali will have problem on facing starc and co and will give a easy catch to wade
 
This is how test cricket is played these days. Almost in 50 % of the test matches nowadays 50 % of the runs come from the lower middle order and tail. Pakistans problem in batting over the past half a decade or so has been compounded by the failure of its tail. Our tailenders hardly make any contribution however today was a different story hence we suddenly see our batting looking reasonable even in alien conditions. The victory in Oval was also down to our the runs contributed by our lower half of the batting which complimented younis khan so well in our first innings.
 
Very impressed with the fight back, Well played boys.... Still Aus are the favourites. Problem with shafiq is he doesnt make it a big hundred so far as he is yet to make a 150 score.. i feel shafiq will be the 1st wicket tomorrow morning and ten overs max will be bowled i guess...Anyways a resilient fight back and paying the price for a poor 1st inns total...
 
Great fightback. The pink ball probably cost us the match otherwise this team is good enough to get at least a draw against this Australian team. The pink ball experiment should end. It's horrible.
 
Great fightback. The pink ball probably cost us the match otherwise this team is good enough to get at least a draw against this Australian team. The pink ball experiment should end. It's horrible.

the pink ball is fine. the evening sessions also fine. first innings batting was poor.
 
What fight back it was!

The Gabba was always gonna be our toughest challenge. Considering it would be a day night match and there would be bounce in the pitch. The MCG and SCG will be much better to bat on for our batters.

It was extremely important in this innings for Younis and Asad to get into form. Right now Azhar, Younis, Asad, and Sarfraz are our batsman in form. 4/7 Batsman are looking in good nick. The others should do well on the other two flat pitches as well. Along with that our tail can also show some fight in the next match, if we add Sohail to the tail. Then the whole tail will be able to score 25 plus runs.
 
Pakistan have bowled better than Australia from day 2 on wards and have played the better cricket for the last 2 days [MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION]
 
This will be one of the greatest Test wins in our history if we chase this down.
 
Quite hilarious how the Aussies were going on and on about Smith's catches for the last week, yet it's his dropped catch of Shafiq that might cost them a Test [MENTION=46929]shaz619[/MENTION] :)))
 
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is there any chance of rain in the day or after evening?
 
[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION] is there any chance of rain in the day or after evening?
Sorry, but no.

It's a bit cloudy, but this match will start on time and be finished in the first session.
 
Sorry, but no.

It's a bit cloudy, but this match will start on time and be finished in the first session.

just a cloud cover or by any chance those gray clouds with some water in it?:broad
 
what fight back it was!

The gabba was always gonna be our toughest challenge. Considering it would be a day night match and there would be bounce in the pitch. The mcg and scg will be much better to bat on for our batters.

It was extremely important in this innings for younis and asad to get into form. Right now azhar, younis, asad, and sarfraz are our batsman in form. 4/7 batsman are looking in good nick. The others should do well on the other two flat pitches as well. Along with that our tail can also show some fight in the next match, if we add sohail to the tail. Then the whole tail will be able to score 25 plus runs.
To be brutally honest Younus didn't look convicting at all in his innings.
 
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