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 in opposition to 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 have been misplaced to rain. Pakistan’s bowlers discovered loads of motion within the overcast circumstances and have been rewarded with the wickets of David Warner (38), Usman Khawaja (42) and Steve Smith (26).
But a affected person Labuschagne was immovable because 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,” mentioned 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 discipline first on a pitch suited to the seamers.
Spearheaded by Shaheen Shah Afridi, they bowled an excellent 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,” mentioned 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 within the first 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 within the closing 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 deliver 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 appeared destined for an enormous rating earlier thanAli, again within the staff after being neglected for Perth, drew an edge that Salman took properly within the slips to go away Australia on 108-2.
With darkish clouds overhead, the lights have been turned on mid-afternoon with Labuschagne and Smith in survival mode because 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 residence.
Smith and Labuschagne continued to play defensively, with runs onerous to come back by.
Labuschagne lastly relieved some strain 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 assessment confirmed the ball going excessive.
He was much less lucky in opposition to 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.
(This story has been edited by Mahaz News employees …)
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Source web site: sports activities.ndtv.com
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