Cricket: Pakistan 49 for two at lunch in first test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 at Lords
Australia roared back after being dismissed for 253 runs on the second day of the first test. Pakistan and Australia are playing a two match series at the home of cricket Lords as part of the Marylebone Cricket Club Spirit of Cricket series.
The Aussies reduced the Pakistanis to 49 for 2 at lunch on the second day.
At the start of day two, Mr. Cricket Michael Hussey and Doug Bollinger added crucial runs at the end of the innings to take the Australians past the 250 run mark.
Resuming at 229 for 9 the duo found the third man and fine leg boundaries increasing the agony of the Pakistani bowlers and fielders.
There was success for the hosts of the series, as Doug Bollinger was knocked over by a late in swinger by Mohammad Amir, who was the destroyer in chief for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 claiming four wickets for 72 in 19.2 overs.
The 18-year old rookie was ably supported by fellow quicks, Mohammad Asif, and, Umar Gul, who took three and one wicket respectively.
Asif was the outstanding bowler on day one. In the two sessions either side of the tea interval, Asif claimed Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120, Simon Katich, and, Marcus North, inside seven deliveries.
The Pakistanis started their reply on a negative note as Imran Farhat was dismissed by Ben Hilfenhaus. A genuine edge from Farhat was snapped by wicket-keeper Tim Paine behind the stumps.
Farhat was laden-footed on the crease walking into the shot only to edge it to Paine who was elated to grab his first catch in test cricket.
Debutant Azhar Ali started off positively looking solid and composed as he scored some easy runs off some wayward bowling by Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger.
Salman Butt also looked in good touch carrying on from his solid run with the bat in the limited overs format of the game.
The overcast conditions at the ground made life tough for the batsman as the ground remained under the cover of dark clouds throughout the first session on day two.
The two batsmen withstood the onslaught and rarely looked in trouble against the three pronged Aussie pace attack, and just when it seemed like that the two would bat out till lunch, Azhar Ali perished to an out swinger by Hilfenhaus and once again Paine made no mistake.
At the break Salman Butt was at the crease on 26, while another debutant Umar Amin is yet to open his account.
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