Pakistan Fight Back After Lacklustre Bowling
We have seen two days of cricket played in the first Test match between Australia and Pakistan. The first day belonged to the Pakistanis whereas the second day was dominated by the Australians. The third day swung from one end to another, and ended on a rather even keel.
Australia resumed their second innings at 100/4 in 29.3 overs after play was stopped due to bad light on the previous day. Simon Katich was one run away from a well-deserved half century, accompanied by night watchman Mitchell Johnson.
Johnson started the day off positively, striking three boundaries off Mohammad Aamer in only the third over of the day. Afridi had no choice but to introduce his spinners quicky, in only the fifth over of the game. Danish Kaneria started off with a maiden.
Johnson took the attack to the Pakistanis whereas Katich was preserved his wicket – a wise strategy one might say. Johnson stuck five new boundaries since morning until he was finally surprised by a swinging delivery from Umar Gul. This was Gul's 100th wicket of his career.
Strategies would have been discussed over lunch, and they worked out perfectly for Pakistan as they picked up the prized wicket of Katich in the very first over after lunch. Katich missed yet another opportunity to score a century as he was out on 83 when Australia was 188/6.
Australia lost yet another wicket in the next over when Marcus North paid the price for lack of footwork.
With two new batsmen at the crease, Afridi continued to attack with his best bowlers on the ground, Umar Gul and Mohammed Asif. Danish Kaneria had not looked at his best in the match so far, but as soon as he was given the ball by his captain, he delivered a telling blow.
By picking up the wicket of Steven Smith, Kaneria left Australia struggling at 208/8.
The Australian tail was in now as Ben Hilfenhaus walked in to bat with Tim Paine. Little did Pakistan know that it would be this partnership which will provide a much more stable platform for Australia than most of the rest of the wickets in the innings. Tim Paine, who scored a brilliant 46, was instrumental in making the Pakistanis feel grumpy and sad, considering how well they have bowled in the innings so far.
With only one wicket remaining and the lead already more than 320, Pakistan would have liked to wrap things up soon. But Doug Bollinger seemed to have been inspired by Hilfenhaus. The two put up a 52-run partnership to take Australia past the 300 mark.
Australia was bowled out for 334, although honestly, it should have been much less.
Pakistan would have to chase down a record target of 440 to win the Test match. Time was in their favour as they had over two days to achieve the target. But whether their young batting line up had the temperament and skills to hold their guard against the Australian Awesome Foursome remained to be seen.
Pakistan started off well, with both openers, Imran Farhat and Salman Butt getting starts. The opening partnership for Pakistan reached 50 runs before their first wicket fell for the day.
Imran Farhat had been frustrated by the several starts he had got recently, and the saga continued for him. In an attempt to make a big score, he tried to score quickly until aggression finally got the better of him. He did not read the ball well enough and presented the first Test wicket for Steven Smith.
Pakistan debutant, Azhar Ali, played a sensible knock by giving strike to his senior partner Salman Butt on as many occasions as possible. Salman Butt scored his second half century of the match as he provided Pakistan with a stable start. By the end of the 37th over, Pakistan was 114/1. Ali could have been declared out LBW off the last ball of the day, but the umpire thought that the ball would have missed the stump and he survived to fight another day.
Pakistan still has a long way to go before they can get redemption for their unforgettable series in Australia
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