Pakistan set to end Test match losing streak against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
Nearly fifteen years and thirteen test matches later, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 is set to end the voodoo cast by the Australians over them. As an inspired batting display by Imran Farhat and Azhar Ali take them to the brink of what many thought was a very tricky run chase on the third day of the second and final neutral test played at the Headingley in Leeds.
The Pakistani team recovered brilliantly from a late onslaught by the latest Australian sensation, Steven Smith to claw their way back on the top in what has been an extremely absorbing test match. It has kept the viewers on the edge of their seats since the start of play on Wednesday.
The third day started with the Aussies just 36 runs behind and looking set to trouble Pakistan with a big chase in the final innings. Considering that their two most classy players Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and Ricky Ponting were at the crease and settled in a decent partnership.
The real turnaround was the magnificent opening spell by teenage sensation, Mohammad Aamer. He once again proved that he is one of the most outstanding talents in the game as he prized out Ponting, Mike Hussey and Marcus North in a high class display of seam and swing bowling at a high pace.
Ponting was snapped behind the stumps by Kamran Akmal for 66, while Mike Hussey was caught in the slips by Kamran’s brother Umar Akmal as the bowler bowled holding the cherry across the seam.
Marcus North’s miserable series with the bat ended with another duck, as the left-hander chopped an Aamer delivery onto his stumps.
The southpaw scored less than 50 runs in the four innings he played in the series. The Australians would be thinking of how long they can rely on the batsman who has yet failed to establish himself at the highest level.
After reducing the Aussies to 164 for 5, the Pakistani bowlers took the foot off the gas conceding 185 runs for the last five wickets. Tim Paine and Steven Smith, with help from Ben Hilfenhaus, helped their team build a substantial lead to ensure that Pakistan faces an anxious chase in the fourth innings.
Smith in particular had a great time with the bat smashing 77 runs of only 100 balls in the second test of his career. He clubbed two sixes of successive balls off Danesh Kaneria as the last two wickets added 66 runs, to add to Pakistan captain, Salman Butt’s woes.
Finally the right hander was dismissed as he attempted to smash Umar Gul and got an inside edge that rattled the ball into his stumps.
Pakistan was set a chase of 180 runs, and the openers started nervously. The hosts of the neutral series were dealt a body blow when their most successful batsman of the series and new test captain, Salman Butt, perished to Hilfenhaus.
However it was Imran Farhat’s turn to raise his hand and be counted. The left-hander survived a dropped chance by Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 off Doug Bollinger when he had made just 4 runs. But he then made the most of the opportunity, striking 9 fours in a 95 ball, 67 run knock.
He found great company in Azhar Ali who remained unbeaten on 47, with his runs coming off 105 balls. Farhat was bowled by Bollinger, and the nervy Pakistani dressing room suffered another blow when the rookie Umar Amin edged a short of length delivery from Bollinger into the hands of Tim Paine.
Umar Akmal survived the last two overs with Azhar, leaving Pakistan at 140/3 at close, 40 runs away from their most significant test win in many years.
Surely the most unpredictable and fragile batting line-up in the world, cannot throw this away, as even from their own poor standards a defeat from here would be nothing less than a catastrophe.
Tags: