Australian batsmen Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh are seen throughout their partnership on day 3 of the second Test in opposition to Pakistan in Melbourne on December 28, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Australia misplaced its first 4 wickets for 16 runs in its second innings however a 153-run stand between Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh had the hosts in an excellent place with two days to play within the second cricket check in opposition to Pakistan.
Marsh was out for 96 and Smith for 50 to depart Australia at 187-6 at stumps on December 28 and with a 241-run lead going into the fourth day on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Marsh fell simply wanting his fourth check century after Salman Ali Agha hung onto a spectacular diving catch within the slips. Smith battled his solution to his first check 50 for the reason that Ashes from 176 balls, the second-slowest half-century of his profession.
“It’s clearly disappointing. I believed we navigated our approach out of a tough scenario in that partnership with (Smith),” Marsh mentioned. “I guess there’s a lot of history at this ground, the Boxing Day test, and a bloody big honors board that I was close to getting on, but it wasn’t meant to be. Hopefully I get one more crack at it.”
Captain Pat Cummins took his tenth five-wicket whole in check matches earlier to assist Australia earn a 54-run first-innings lead. But Pakistan got here again from the innings break to take the wickets of Usman Khawaja for a duck and Marnus Labuschagne for 5, leaving Australia two wickets down for under six runs and an general lead of 60 at lunch.
Cummins, who swung the Boxing Day check in Australia’s favor late on day two, grabbed two wickets on Thursday morning to complete with figures of 5-48. Pakistan’s tail confirmed way more resistance than anticipated to push its in a single day rating from 194-6 to be dismissed for 264 in reply to Australia’s 318.
Australia’s 54-run lead after the primary innings was helped by Pakistan’s 52 extras.
Fast bowler Aamir Jamal annoyed Australia’s bowling assault Thursday, hitting an unbeaten 33 in simply his second check. Afridi, who averages 6.74 with the bat, additionally thrashed his solution to his highest check rating of 21.
Cummins had robust assist from spinner Nathan Lyon (4-73).
Pakistan is attempting to keep away from dropping its sixteenth consecutive check in Australia.
Australia had resumed Wednesday on 187-3, following a rain-interrupted first day of play through which solely 66 of the scheduled 90 overs have been bowled.
Australia gained the primary check in Perth by 360 runs.
The third check within the three-match sequence is scheduled to start Jan. 3 on the Sydney Cricket Ground, the place Pakistan gained its final check in Australia in 1995.
Source: www.thehindu.com
