AUS vs PAK | Twitter reacts as Starc's dream isnwinger becomes Shafique's nightmare to bag batter disastrous pair
Perhaps the worst thing an out-of-form batter can endure is an unplayable peach with the ability to completely disintegrate the confidence of anyone up against it. Abdullah Shafique had the misfortune of being that guy on Friday when Mitchell Starc produced a delivery for the ages in his first over.
Pakistan battled the odds on Day 3 of the New Year's Test at Sydney Cricket Ground to sneak a 14-run first-innings lead courtesy of Aamer Jamal's six-wicket masterclass. Tangibly ahead for the first time on the tour and with a real chance at earning a first Test victory Down Under in 28 years, the Men in Green did not take long to encounter the reason behind their long drought as brilliant Australia struck in hallmark fashion to claw back the advantage.
Mitchell Starc as usual took the new ball in hand to kickstart the second half of the Test and worked Abdullah Shafique through the first five deliveries without conceding a run. The sequence culminated in a delivery angling considerably wide of the batter from over the wicket to cap off the over, only for the Kookaburra to move sharply in the air and land at length on off-stump before nipping back ludicrously to pierce the bat-pad gap and send the bails cartwheeling. Starc immediately raised his arm in the air for his trademark celebration while Shafique stared at the pitch in disbelief, unable to digest the fact that the red cherry could dance to the whims of the left-arm quick in such an audacious manner. The southpaw had also fallen prey to Starc in the first innings, thus bagging the first pair in his Test career.
In the background, the sea of pink in the stands rose as one ecstasy, reflecting the chaotic hype of enthusiastic praise directed towards the veteran pacer on Twitterati.
Watching this on loop!
PEACH! 🍑
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 5, 2024
Mitch Starc does it again! pic.twitter.com/9OQ1bTeO1G
No words!
This is live porn in full hd
— Div🦁 (@div_yumm) January 5, 2024
Mitchell Starc 🥵pic.twitter.com/r1XQyOtfG6
Exceptional
This is Mitchell Starc 💥
— Swapnil Vats (@iamswapnilvats) January 5, 2024
In his opening over, he repeats the feat with an exceptional delivery.
A vintage wicket as the ball swings sharply, finding its way through Shafique's defenses.#AUSvPAK | #MitchellStarcpic.twitter.com/mUpxuzhzSv
Absolute peach
Absolute Peach 💥💥💥
— RSY & VKᵀᵒˣᶦᶜ (@PKMKBforever690) January 5, 2024
Starc 🔥🔥#PAKvsAUSpic.twitter.com/wzFcJUlFEH
Too good!
Peach 🍑 of the delivery from Mitchell Starc 😲
— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) January 5, 2024
Too good for Abdullah Shafique#PAKvsAUS #T20WorldCup #Babar #Dropped #INDvsSA #ViratKohli #Pakistanpic.twitter.com/5gNAxUJPQ2
Unplayable!
Unplayable delivery from Mitchell Starc 🔥#AUSvsPAK #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/sc8Q6VADdI
— Sekar 𝕏 (@itzSekar) January 5, 2024
He is an artist
Starc you beauty 👏💪#AUSvsPAK #PAKvsAUSpic.twitter.com/KwkRMao1D7
— Pseudo Man (@Pseudo_Man2) January 5, 2024
Shafique departs
What A Ball from Mitchell Starc! In swinging ball to departs Abdullah Shafique💔#PAKvsAUS || #AUSvsPAK || #AUSvPAK
— Muhammad Ibrar (@iMIbrarr) January 5, 2024
pic.twitter.com/vTn1PrmAQv
Litreally unplayable
Starc ball to Abdullah was 91 mph it swung 12.34 degrees and then seamed 6.62 degrees The total reaction time to from release to interception was .000047 seconds No human being in history can play that Its literally unplayable pic.twitter.com/KidFrqaHrF
— . (@Hyderabad113) January 5, 2024
Just wow
I mean this is just wow stuff from starc.pic.twitter.com/QgDvdGknHw https://t.co/TepSWueRFO
— Deepak. (@WicketHawkx) January 5, 2024