Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match

Late breakthrough cements Australian ascendancy despite Pakistan fightback in Perth

Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Nathan Lyon's 497th Test wicket and late breakthrough from Mitchell Starc have given Australia the upper hand despite an at-times frustrating day two of the series opener against Pakistan in Perth.

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Pakistan is 2-132 at stumps, still trailing the Australians by 355 runs, with opener Imam-ul-Haq (38*) and nightwatcher Khurram Shahzad (7*) successfully weathering the storm to remain unbeaten overnight.

“We probably would have liked a couple more wickets on the board, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey told Fox Cricket at stumps.

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Tomorrow is a big morning; hopefully, we play the ball well. 

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Pakistan’s top order showed plenty of fight in the face of adversity, thwarting Australia’s world-class pace trio during the tense evening session at Perth Stadium. However, Starc removed rival captain Shan Masood in the final 15 minutes of the day, courtesy of a review from skipper Pat Cummins, to give Australia bragging rights heading into day three.

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Earlier, local hero Mitchell Marsh fell agonizingly short of a fourth Test century, bowling for 90 to the dismay of friends and family in the crowd. The West Australian, playing his first Test match in his home state since 2017, make a mockery for Pakistan’s bowlers in the morning session, smacking 16 boundaries before falling on the first delivery after lunch.

“It is a little bit emotional walking out, A Marsh told reporters in the post-match press conference.

“It’s quite a surreal feeling when we have your friends and family, but most importantly, West Australians, really getting behind you.

“That was an incredible experience.”

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Pakistan seamer Aamir Jamal, who claimed six wickets in an impressive performance on Test debut, ripped through Australia’s tail in the afternoon session to help bowl out the hosts for 487.

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Resuming day two at 5-346, Marsh and Carey quickly set about the heaping pain on the Pakistan’s bowlers, combining for a 90-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Marsh was unafraid to play his shots, feasting on Faheem Ashraf short-pitched bowling and crunching Jamal over mid-wicket for a monstrous six.

Pakistan continued to be plagued by sloppy errors in the field, including needless overthrows, fumbles near the boundary rope, and a missed run out chance, which handed Marsh a massive reprieve on 81. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's most experienced bowler, was down on pace and far from his best, producing a handful of low full-tosses and loose deliveries down the leg.

Jamal was Pakistan’s only wicket-taker in the morning session, knocking over Carey for 34 and Mitchell Starc for 12 with pair gorgeous deliveries that nipped away from the left-handed batters and crashed into the pegs.

Marsh retired for lunch in the nervous nineties but only lasted one delivery after the break, bowled through the gate after attempting to thump Shahzad down the ground; groans echoed around the venue as the all-rounder trudge off the field ten runs short of triple figures.

“It’s never nice to get out in the nineties, Marsh continued.

“It going to have to cop those on the chin at time.

“It would have been lovely to do it for the family, especially my nanna, who I could see in the stands today, but it was mean to be.

Team success always outweighs personal success I’ll take 90 and move on.

(Pak vs aus - 1st Inning of test match) Jamal returned to the attack in the afternoon session to clean up the tail, removing Cummins and tailender Nathan Lyon in quick success. The right-armer finished with 6-111 from 20.2 overs, the third-best bowling performance by a touring debutant on Australian soil in Test history.

Pakistan’s openers survived the tea break unscathed, only offering one chance in the afternoon session; Lyon found the outside edge of Abdullah Shafique’s bat with his second delivery of the day, but the chance evaded a diving Steve Smith at first slip. Despite some probing spells from the Australian quicks, Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq refused the budge, forced to play defensive as they blocked out some disciplined line and length.

Australia’s frustration grew after tea, with countless plays and misses flying past the bat as a Pakistan’s openers combined for a 74-run partnership. The hosts wasted a review in the 31st over after Carey claimed a catch down the leg side off  Lyon’s bowling, with replays showing the ball had instead of scrap on Shafique’s thigh.

The talented opener was perhaps lucky not to be run out in the 35th over when Carey failed to dislodge the bails at the striker end, with replays suggesting the Pakistan’s back foot may have been off the ground when the gloveman touched the stumps.

Shafique could make the most of the reprieve, becoming Lyon 497th Test victim a few minutes later after charging down the pitch and flicking the ball towards David Warner at leg slip, caught for 42.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood got off to a blistering start but required medical attention after copping a full-blooded straight drive from Imam in the back. A few minutes later, Masood came within inches of being run out following a superb piece fielding from Warner, but he saved himself with a diving effort.

Masood and Imam picked up the tempo as the artificial lights took effect, but the Pakistan skipper fell victim to Starc in the final moments of the day, driving outside off stump and edging behind Carey. Umpire Richard Illingworth elected not to raise the dreaded finger, but Cummins successfully overturned the decision following a review, going for 30.

“We’re quietly confident and quite happy with the performances, Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul told reporters at stumps.

“So far, we are satisfied.”

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