Published: Dec 28, 2016, 11:20 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 28, 2016, 11:20 AM (IST)
Australian opener David Warner completed 5,000 runs in Test cricket, against Pakistan on Day Three of the second Test, at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Warner scored his 23rd half-century from 55 deliveries. The attacking southpaw became only the sixth fastest (overall) and 19th Australian to reach the mark. In his 109th innings, Warner overtook the likes Ricky Ponting, Allan Border, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh. Warner averages 47.58 inclusive of 16 hundred.
Australia legend Sir Don Bradman leads the list, for he reached 5,000 runs in just 56 innings, followed by Matthew Hayden (95 innings). The list also features Neil Harvey (105), Greg Chappell (106), and Mike Hussey (107). Former Australia captain Ponting (110) took only an innings more than Warner. However, Australia are in the pursuit of Pakistan’s 443 in the first innings. Opener Azhar Ali scored a scintillating double-hundred, remaining unbeaten on 205.
Full Cricket Scorecard, Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd Test at Melbourne
Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird got 3 wickets each before Pakistan declared their innings. Australia started off their innings well with opener Matthew Renshaw and Warner counterattacked the Pakistan pacers. But Renshaw was soon dismissed by Yasir Shah for 10. Warner then cut loose and has been playing at a strike rate of 90 with Usman Khawaja at the other end. With the first two days of the game tormented by rain, the fate of this match is likely to be decided by the end of Day Three’s play.
With two more days to go, Australia would look to take a lead and seal the series 2-0.
