Follow us

AUS vs PAK | Twitter reacts as Pakistan's fielding folly hands Australia complete control on rollercoaster Day 3

no image

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

507
no image

Pakistan had only themselves to blame for allowing Australia to inch closer to victory in the Boxing Day encounter at the MCG on Thursday. The hosts ended Day 3 with a lead of 241 runs and five wickets still in hand as Mitchell Marsh narrowly missed out on a century after being dropped early on.

‌Following the 45-minute delayed start due to a wet outfield, Pakistan added 70 runs to their overnight score of 194/6 to end up conceding a first-innings lead of 54 runs despite Mohammad Rizwan falling relatively early on the day for 42. Aamer Jamal played a key unbeaten knock of 33 and Shaheen Afridi scored a quick 21 runs on the back of four boundaries while Pat Cummins sealed his 10th Test five-wicket haul in addition to Nathan Lyon's four scalps.
However, Australia fumbled their advantage early on courtesy an inspired new ball spell from Shaheen Afridi as Usman Khawaja departed on the second ball of the innings for a duck while Marnus Labuschagne followed suit on the last ball before Lunch to leave the team reeling at 16/2. The situation became worse on the other side of the break as Mir Hamza broke through the opposition ranks by accounting for David Warner and Travis Head on consecutive deliveries, undoing the latter with an unplayable inswinging peach.
Suddenly having the game by its throat at 16/4, the Men in Green had a chance to firmly capitalize on the collapse when Mitchell Marsh edged a delivery to first slip when batting on 20, only for Abdullah Shafique to let go of a sitter. By the time the batter repeated the mistake nearly three hours later, the fifth-wicket partnership with Steve Smith had grown to 153 runs and Marsh's personal tally read 96, just four short of a fourth Test ton. Smith registered a laborious half-century off 153 deliveries shortly after and succumbed to a short ball barrage from Afridi 23 balls later without scoring another run with the wicket signaling the end of play. Carey remained unbeaten on 16* and would be joined by Pat Cummins on Day 4 with the overnight score reading 187/6.

Farewell!!

Dance

Same

Magical

Lovely

LOL

Smith charges on

The wall

Dream

Cutest moment

Comments

Leave a comment

0 Comments

read previous‌Martin Guptill hangs boot from international cricket
Renowned New Zealand cricketer Martin Guptill has confirmed his international retirement at the age of 38 on Wednesday. He last represented the national side in a five-match T20I series against Bangladesh in October 2022 and will feature in franchise tournaments across the globe.
AUS vs PAK | Twitter reacts as Salman Agha Ali teaches Shafique a lesson with incredible grab to deny Marsh centuryread next
There are few feelings sweeter than redemption and although Pakistan's arrived a bit too late, it made for a glorious moment all the same. After Abdullah Shafique had dropped a sitter to let off Mitchell Marsh early in his knock, Salman Agha Ali took a sensational diving catch to dismiss him for 96.

You may also like

no image
AUS vs PAK | Twitter reacts as Salman Agha Ali teaches Shafique a lesson with incredible grab to deny Marsh century
Thu, Dec 28, 2023 12:40 PM
no image
AUS vs PAK | Twitter in disbelief as Abdullah Shafique shamefully drops golden opportunity to sneak rare Test win Down Under
Thu, Dec 28, 2023 09:54 AM
no image
AUS vs PAK | Twitter and players share giggles as Richard Illingworth's lift mishap forces long delay
Thu, Dec 28, 2023 09:08 AM
no image
SA vs IND | Dean Elgar outshines Rahul in century battle as South Africa seize control on Day 2
Wed, Dec 27, 2023 09:25 PM
View non-AMP page