Australia vs Pakistan 2016/17, 2nd Test, Day 1: Rain Halts Aussies’ Hard-Work On Boxing Day At MCG

Jan 30, 2019 at 1:42 PM

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Australia vs Pakistan 2016/17, 2nd Test, Day 1: Rain Halts Aussies’ Hard-Work On Boxing Day At MCG

Rain interrupted Australia’s good work with ball on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG as Pakistan lost four wickets for 142 runs before play was called off.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq won the toss and elected to bat first on a track which looked decent for batting. The openers were held to back foot for the first ten overs as the Aussie quickies were on them with some fiery bowling.

Just in the 12th over of the game, left-handed batsman Sami Aslam was deceived by a flighted delivery from Nathan Lyon, which caught the shoulder of the bat and straight into Steven Smith’s hand in the first slip. The wicket ignited the roar in the crowd which started chanting ‘NICE GARRY’.

Huge Australian crowd chant NICE GARRY after spinner Nathan Lyon grabbed opener Sami Aslam.

Promising batsman Babar Azam then walked out to bat in-front of a 70,000 plus crowd at the MCG, looking a bit anxious initially. The 21-year-old settled his nerves down by playing some defensive shots. He whacked one to Jackson Bird for four before unleashing two more boundaries to Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc in coming overs.

Just as Pakistan were on the brink of taking the first session home, Josh Hazlewood dismissed Babar Azam on 23. The batsman flirted with the ball just outside off stump and found it travelling to the slip cordon. Smith took another catch and Pakistan took lunch at 66 for two.

Post Lunch, Younis Khan, side’s most experienced batsman and one of the three players to have earlier played a Boxing Day Tests for Pakistan at the MCG, walked in. He took no time to stamp his presence by playing a beautiful cover drive to Jackson Bird onto the cover areas.

Bird, who was on the receiving end of the shot took his revenge by bowling a peach of the delivery to Khan, clipping the bails off from the stumps. Bird was ecstatic and so was the Aussie crowd. Pakistan after a unhurried start lost three wickets.

Jackson Bird of Australia runs in jubilation after dismissing Younis Khan on day one of boxing day Tests at MCG.

Up next was Misbah-ul-Haq. The skipper was song as he lofted one to deep mid-wicket area to Nathan Lyon to open his account. Misbah was lashed onto the loose delivery from Bird to stretch his numbers into double digits. Two balls later, an excellent catch from Nic Maddison, who was standing at short-leg, helped Bird clinch his second scalp of the match.

Nic Maddinson of Australia appeals after taking a catch at short-leg position.

After taking a close look at the edge and the catch, Misbah was given out on 11. Pakistan lost yet another wicket and were starring at the same situation, they were in the Brisbane match. Last match hero Asad Shafiq then stepped on the MCG’s field for the first time.

The batting duo were only getting their feet jammed on the ground when the rain came in and showed no signs of returning soon, resulting in the abandonment of day’s play. Australia, by all measures, were in the drivers seat before the play stopped.

At Stumps on Day One:

Pakistan – 142/4; Azhar Ali 66*(138), Babar Azam 23(43), Jackson Bird 2/53.

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