Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne bats towards Pakistan throughout their cricket take a look at match in Melbourne, on December 26, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
A cussed Marnus Labuschagne weathered a storm to assist steer Australia to 187-3 on a rain-disrupted opening day of the second Test in Melbourne Tuesday towards a probing and resilient Pakistan assault.
At stumps, he was unbeaten on a glacial 44 off 120 balls and Travis Head was not out on 9 after almost three hours’ play had been misplaced to rain.
Pakistan’s bowlers discovered loads of motion in the overcast circumstances and had been rewarded with the wickets of David Warner (38), Usman Khawaja (42) and Steve Smith (26).
But a affected person Labuschagne was immovable as the hosts look to seal the three-Test collection after thumping the guests by 360 runs in Perth.
“It was a good day as a bowling unit, a bit unlucky that we haven’t got more wickets,” stated Pakistan paceman Hasan Ali, who eliminated Khawaja.
“I think we are a bit ahead of them and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Pakistan captain Shan Masood received the toss and opted to area first on a pitch suited to the seamers.
Spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, they bowled size and located early swing.
“(We are) okay. Another wicket less would have been great, but credit to the way Pakistan bowled. They bowled unbelievable channels,” stated Warner.
“But I think going into tomorrow we’re in a pretty good position. Anything with a four in front of it would be great, but it is going to be a tough grind.”
Warner, who made 164 in the primary innings at Perth in his farewell Test collection, was dropped on two by Abdullah Shafique, who put down a regulation catch at second slip.
He was additionally lucky to get away with an edge that sailed over the slips for a boundary on 17.
His luck ran out with a rash shot off part-time spinner Agha Salman in the ultimate over earlier than lunch, with Babar Azam holding a catch at slip off a thick exterior edge.
Survival mode
Warner’s long-time opening companion Khawaja has been embroiled in a dispute with the International Cricket Council over how he can carry consideration to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
He was denied a bid to show a sticker displaying a black dove holding an olive department on his bat and as an alternative performed with the names of his daughters on his sneakers.
The 37-year-old hit a boundary off the second ball he confronted and regarded destined for an enormous rating earlier thanAli, again in the group after being missed for Perth, drew an edge that Salman took nicely in the slips to go away Australia on 108-2.
With darkish clouds overhead, the lights had been turned on mid-afternoon with Labuschagne and Smith in survival mode as the bowlers turned the screws earlier than the rain arrived.
The circumstances finally cleared and play resumed in entrance of a sparse crowd, with most of the 62,000 followers giving up and going house.
Smith and Labuschagne continued to play defensively, with runs laborious to come back by.
Labuschagne lastly relieved some stress when Aamer Jamal was introduced on, hitting his first boundary in 75 balls, with the grin on his face telling a narrative.
It was equally sluggish going for Smith, who was given out lbw on 19 after an enormous shout from Afridi, however a evaluation confirmed the ball going excessive.
He was much less lucky towards Jamal quickly after. The umpire ignored an attraction from wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for a catch, however Pakistan reviewed and it confirmed a faint edge, ending a 147-ball partnership.
