Australia’s bowlers wrenched momentum from Pakistan striking back with full force after lunch to pick up as many as five wickets. Pakistan was playing steadily at 75/0 before one wicket enticed a flurry of them as they slipped to 78/4 in no time, showing why they’re called mercurial, to go to tea on 125 for 5 in a session where 68 runs were scored.
On Thursday, Pakistan was the first visiting team since 2001 that went to lunch without losing a wicket in the opening session at the Gabba. Azhar Ali and Shan Masood staged the highest first-innings opening stand against Australia at the Gabba having added 75, keeping Australia’s bowlers at bay.
Having bowled too short and wide in the opening session, the lack of attacking the stumps consistently didn’t fetch Australia anything. That changed after lunch after Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood delivered a hostile spell, bowling short, better lengths, and attacking the stumps more often. With the energy up, they were creating chances. They made the batsmen play more with the edges falling short and a wicket seemed always round the corner. Masood even copped one on the finger as runs came in a trickle. And the wickets came soon enough.
Cummins came up with a breakthrough as a shorter ball angled in to get Masood. Seam movement undid Azhar in the following over to get an edge as the openers were sent back in successive overs. Mitchell Starc piling on the pressure created by the former pair had Haris Sohail who offered a nothing shot to find an edge. A poor shot from Babar Azam forced Pakistan further down the mire. Nathan Lyon struck off the first ball of his spell as Iftikhar Ahmed got the edge looking to play forward defense.
When it looked like Australia were tightening their clutches upon Pakistan, Asad Shafiq and Mohammad Rizwan staged a brief fightback with a 31-runs partnership off just 41 balls to counter-attack. Boundaries came with ease as the pair found few boundaries.
The current score of the match – Pakistan scored 240 runs all out against Australia.
