Fifties from Pakistan’s top-order batsmen Azhar Ali and Younis Khan led the side’s charge after Australian batsman Peter Handscomb scored his second century on Day 2 of the Sydney Test.
Australia were on rampage on Day 1, after openers David Warner and Matt Renshaw produced scintillating performances to put the hosts ahead. On Day 2, their intentions didn’t seem to divert, as the onslaught continued. Renshaw, who ended Day 1 on 167, could only add 17 more runs to his tally, before edging one onto his stumps on well-made 184.
Walked in next was the debutant Hilton Cartwright. Joining forces with Peter Handscomb, the pair stretched Australia’s first innings tally past 400 in no time. The 24-year-old from Zimbabwe could manage 37 in his first outing, as a peach of a delivery from Imran Khan cleaned him up.
Handscomb, who scored his maiden century in the first Test, found success in Sydney also, as he brought up his hundred off 195 balls. The crowd raised to the ovation.
Just as the hosts went past the 500-run mark, Pakistan got three wickets, including a run-out of Mitchell Starc. Australia then declared their first innings on a total of 538 for eight.
In reply, Pakistan was sluggish in the start, losing two quick wickets within 16 runs. Babar Azam, tipped to be the next big thing in Pakistan, failed again. In five innings on this tour, he has scored just 59 runs in five innings at an average of under 12.
The pair of Azhar Ali and Younis Khan then steadied the ship for the visitors. Looking a bit comfortable on the surface, which is relatively slow as compared to other pitches across Australia, Younis and Azhar made fielders do a bit of running in the outfield. Odd boundaries were just keeping the innings going for Pakistan, as a boundary to bring up the fifty for Younis Khan saw them crossing the 100-run mark by 35th over.
Azhar Ali continued his golden form with the bat, bringing up his second fifty of the tour. The day ended with Azhar and Younis carrying their bats at 58* and 64* respectively.
Stumps On Day Two:
Australia – 538/8; Matt Renshaw 184(293), David Warner 113(95) and Wahab Riaz 3/89.
Pakistan – 126/2; Younis Khan 64*(112), Azhar Ali 58*(123) and Josh Hazlewood 2/32.