Pakistan vs Australia - First test Day 1 report
Pakistan ended day 1 of the first test match against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 with an upper hand, when play was stopped for bad light Australia were at 229/9.
Overall it was a good day out for Afridi’s men. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 after winning the toss has little hesitation in putting the opposition in first. There had been some heavy rainfall over night and the outfield was relatively wet. The start of play was delayed by 2 hours and the conditions looked ideal for seam bowling. Pakistan started the match with 3 quality seam bowlers in shape of Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif and Umar Gul, so the skipper was confident that his trio will be able to make good use of the new ball.
Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif opened the bowling for Pakistan and immediately there was movement in the air and off the pitch for both.
Shahid Afridi used his left right bowling combination very cleverly. Muhammad Aamer was given the Media box end with the Lords slope going from left to right. That aided Aamer in moving the ball into the right handers, and away from the left. Similarly right arm bowler Asif got the other end of the slope and was able to use the decline to move the ball away from the right handers. Mohammad Aamer in particular caused problems for Simon Katich and Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326. On the other hand, Asif at times was on the shorter side and was put away for runs.
It was Aamer who got the first breakthrough after getting the ball to move away from Watson, the left arm bowler made one to quickly move back in. Watson shouldered arms to that one and despite a loud appeal he was given not out. The very next ball also came into him and after hitting his pads bounced onto the stumps, the umpire had by then already raised his finger to give Watson out LBW but he stopped midway as the bails came down.
Soon after Aamer should have had a 2nd wicket when Simon Katich was hit on his pads plum in front but the umpire decided to give him not out.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting was in next and in his typical manner planted his front foot forward and guided it on the leg side for his early runs.
Aamer though got the better of Ponting in a breathtaking spell, as the ball jagged back and Ponting edged one to short leg; Ponting scored 26 runs.
Simon Katich and Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 then staged a good comeback with Asif picking up 3 quick wickets in his comeback spell. First he got the ball to jag back and trapped Michael Clarke LBW for 47, and soon got one to move away from the left hander and Simon Katich was caught behind for 80. Next man in was the left handed Marcus North, he got two in swingers from Asif and barely got bat to ball but the 3rd one was a peach. The ball pitched outside off stump and made its way onto the off stump through North’s bat and pad and knocked him over for naught.
From 171 for 2 Australia had slumped to 174 for 5, after that http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314 got into the act and picked up wickets of Mitchell Johnson and Smith in quick succession. Mohammad Aamer came back to get his 3rd wicket when he cleaned up Hilfenhaus. Michael Hussey though remained unbeaten at the other end, and at close of play Hussey was not out on 39 with fast bowler Bollinger at the other end. Australia will resume day 2 at 229 for 9.
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