Published: Dec 30, 2016, 11:51 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 30, 2016, 02:19 PM (IST)
Four out of five days were curtailed by rains. The team that batted first took a little over three rain-hit days to declare on 443 for 9. Azhar Ali remained stoic, breathing more than just life in an insipid Pakistan team with a record 205 not out. It rained again. And once again. Forecasts remained gloomy, but had a little effect on Steven Smith’s Australia. Smith scored 165 not out himself. David Warner clobbered a 143-ball 144. Usman Khawaja got to 97. Mitchell Starc smashed a record 7 sixes in an innings en route 84, and took 5 wickets. In the end, Australia defied all odds and preyed on a nervous Pakistan side to clinch a Test series win.
Australia’s victory at Melbourne by an innings and 18 runs was neither historical nor famous. They did not even play better cricket over the course of the game than their opponents. But Australia turned up at the right moments. In comparison, Pakistan went into a shell despite scoring close to 450. Pakistan did not trust their skills to reverse-swing the ball. On the other hand, Australia’s quicks bowled with a lot of heart and guile, whereas batsmen refused to let go of an opportunity to make merry on a batting paradise at Melbourne.
Australia ended their losing streak in Test cricket with an unassailable 2-0 lead over Pakistan, coming off successive defeats again Sri Lanka and South Africa. This win over Pakistan — who drew a series in England and flirted with No. 1 spot in Tests for a while — should bring relief to the Australians who had hit a nadir with five defeats in a row.
Full cricket scorecard: Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd Test at Melbourne
Having taken a vital lead of 181 runs in the first innings, Australian bowlers shot Pakistan out for a mere 163 inside two sessions on a wicket replete with runs to deliver their third consecutive Test win. Australia had won the first Test of this series by 39 runs.
Nathan Lyon claimed Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq in a three-ball burst to push Pakistan on back-foot close to tea, and the fast bowlers did the rest. Starc swung the ball prodigiously to claim 4 for 36. Josh Hazlewood claimed 2 wickets each while Jackson Bird provided a crucial breakthrough late in the contest.
Earlier in the day, Australia notched up their highest-ever total at MCG. They declared on 624 for 8, which meant that the lead had been 181.
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Pakistan lost Sami Aslam minutes before the lunch break off Hazlewood, and Starc produced a first-ball wicket in the second session of Babar Azam to make Australia believe a win was possible on what remained a lifeless track for bowlers.
Younis resisted for a while but a catch to short leg spoiled his effort. And the worst came from the Pakistani captain. Misbah came out premeditated to sweep Lyon. He lasted only two balls, getting an edge off the second attempt to reverse-sweep. Pakistan losing their batting mainstays inside one over was a sign strong enough that yet another collapse and a defeat was on the cards.
Towards the end, Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammad Aamer frustrated Australia for over 12 overs, but once the ball began to reverse, the Australian fast bowlers had their tails up. Pakistan could have made Australia bat again. But their lower order gave up the fight.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 443 for 9 decl. (Azhar Ali 205*, Asad Shafiq 50, Sohail Khan 65; Josh Hazlewood 3 for 50) & 163 (Azhar Ali 43, Sarfraz Ahmed 43; Mitchell Starc 4 for 36, Josh Hazlewood 2 for 39, Nathan Lyon 3 for 33) lost to Australia 624 for 8 decl. (David Warner 144, Usman Khawaja 97, Steven Smith 165*, Mitchell Starc 84; Wahab Riaz 2 for 147) by an innings and 18 runs.
Man of the Match: Steven Smith
Full cricket scorecard: Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd Test at Melbourne
