Australian gamers have fun their victory over Pakistan on the fourth day of their cricket check match in Melbourne, on December 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
A fired-up Pat Cummins bagged 5 wickets and 10 in the match to earn Australia a nail-biting 79-run win in the second Test and clinch the series in opposition to a battling Pakistan on December 29.
Set 317 for victory, the guests put up a stellar combat as they chased their first Test triumph in Australia since 1995.
But they had been dismissed for 237, with the final 5 wickets falling for 18 runs.
Australian skipper Cummins was the chief destroyer, taking 5-49 to go along with his first innings 5-48 — solely the second 10-wicket haul of his Test profession.
Mitchell Starc chipped in with 4-55 as the tail collapsed after Shan Masood (60), Agha Salman (50) and Babar Azam (41) gave them a preventing likelihood.
“Little bit twitchy, felt okay but they were batting pretty nicely,” stated Cummins.
“Anything with a three in front of it was the aim, so we got that,” he added of the goal they needed to set Pakistan. “Felt like we had enough to bowl at but a little bit tight.”
It was at all times going to be a tricky process, with the highest-ever profitable fourth innings run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground the 332-7 England managed in 1928, with no different group getting previous 300.
“We have to look at the bigger picture. The smiles are that there are a lot of positives,” stated Pakistan captain Masood.
“This is the way we want to play Test cricket, fighting until the end and a result was possible for us. A lot to work on. But this is a blueprint.”
Opener Abdullah Shafique departed for 4 throughout a tough session earlier than lunch, caught by Usman Khawaja in the slips off Starc following a interval of intense stress.
Australian captain Pat Cummins celebrates after taking 10 wickets in the second Test in opposition to Pakistan in Melbourne on December 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Imam-ul-Haq survived the preliminary blitz, however was no match for Cummins after the break, with the pacer sending down a probing ball that nipped again and trapped him lbw for 12.
Masood was given out lbw by the umpire on 12, nevertheless it was overturned on evaluate and he rapidly bought again in his stride.
He took a nasty ball to the ribs that wanted therapy, however was undeterred and raced to a gutsy 50 earlier than Cummins once more got here to Australia’s rescue, engaging an edge to Steve Smith.
There was lots resting on the shoulders of Azam as the aspect’s premier batter and he appeared in good nick.
But after reaching 41, Josh Hazlewood bought a ball to jag again and it clattered into his off stump.
Mohammad Rizwan additionally appeared harmful on his method to 35 earlier than Cummins once more labored his magic, with Alex Carey accumulating a catch behind the stumps after the ball went off the batsman’s glove.
Cummins then eliminated Aamer Jamal and Shaheen Shah Afridi in fast succession earlier than Starc cleaned up.
Bounced again
The Pakistanis padded up after the hosts had been all out of their second innings for 262, after resuming on 187-6.
Mir Hamza was the better of the bowlers with 4-32, whereas Afridi took 4-76.
Australian gamers have fun after dismissing a Pakistani batsman on day 4 of the second Test in Melbourne on December 29, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Carey slammed 53 to assist Australia construct their in a single day lead.
He resumed on 16 after Australia had bounced again from 16-4 thanks to an attacking 96 from Mitchell Marsh and Smith’s gutsy 50.
Carey, who made his first and solely Test hundred in Melbourne a yr in the past, hit consecutive fours in his first over off Hasan Ali to construct confidence.
At the different finish, Starc lived dangerously and fell for 9 with the spectacular Afridi getting the breakthrough on a pitch nonetheless providing a bit for the bowlers.
Azam took the sharp likelihood at slip after Starc miscued a drive.
Cummins made a breezy 16 however was caught behind by Rizwan off Jamal, who then bowled Lyon for 11, with Carey the final man out, lbw to Hamza.
The last Test of the three-match series is in Sydney subsequent week.
