Pakistan suffered a 79-run defeat in their second Test match towards Australia which additionally resulted in a collection loss on Friday, December 29. Shan Masood-led Pakistan stumbled to only 237 runs whereas chasing a 317-run goal on Day 4 at Melbourne Cricket Ground as their look forward to the primary Test win in Australia since 1996 continues.Â
After an embarrassing 260-run defeat in Perth, Pakistan produced an improved efficiency in the second match however Pat Cummins‘ Australia managed to assert a win in the Boxing Day conflict. Pakistan saved the sport balanced with Masood and Agha Salman scoring fifties whereas chasing the manageable goal at MCG.
Pakistan barely emerged favourites after they wanted solely 98 runs to win the match with 5 wickets in hand. But the followers witnessed a disappointing collapse from 219/5 to all-out on 237 with Cummins and Mitchell Starc working riot.
After the sport, Pakistan staff director Mohammad Hafeez hailed Pakistan’s improved efficiency and added that they played better cricket than the hosts at MCG.
“We played better cricket as a team,” Hafeez instructed reporters after the defeat. “I’m proud of that. The way the team had the courage to attack this game in the best possible way. If I sum up the game, the Pakistan team played better than the other team in general. Our batting intent was better, and while bowling, we were hitting the right areas. Yes, we made some mistakes that cost us the game but as a team I believe that there were a lot of positives, enough to win the game but unfortunately at the end we didn’t win the game.”
Meanwhile, an enormous controversy emerged when third umpire Richard Illingworth dominated out on-field umpire Michael Gough’s determination to dismiss Mohammad Rizwan. Pakistani wicketkeeper batter suffered a caught and behind dismissal with Cummins’ supply whiskering the batter’s gloves and forearm.
Gough gave not-out however the DRS confirmed contact so Illingworth dominated the choice out. Rizwan protested as he believed that the ball did not make contact with the gloves’ bands. Hafeez criticised the umpire’s controversial determination and added that ‘inconsistent umpiring and know-how curse’ value Pakistan the match.
“We made some mistakes as a team, we will take that, we will address those things, but at the same time I believe inconsistent umpiring and technology curse [has] really given us the result which should have been different, Sometimes the technology brings some decisions which obviously, as a human we don’t understand. The ball hitting the stump is always out. Why is it umpire’s call? I never understand that. So I think there are a lot of areas that need to be addressed for the betterment of cricket in general. I think technology is something that is taking away from the instinct of the game,” Hafeez added.
