Australia continues to dominate Pakistan:
Australia: 589/3 (declared)
Pakistan: 96/6 (35 overs)
Day 2: Pakistan trail by 493 runs with 4 wickets still remaining in the innings.
Australia vs Pakistan, Australia continued to dominate Pakistan on Day 2 of 2nd Test utterly. Australia declared their first innings after amassing 589 runs for only 3 wickets, while Pakistani batsmen fell one after the other against the Australian bowlers. Pakistan finished on 96 runs after losing 6 wickets at the end of Day 2.
Australia vs Pakistan, David Warner Shines, Pakistan in distress:
David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne continued to overwhelm Pakistan’s side as they stood there like a wall that refuses to fall at any cost. The pair shared a 361 runs partnership, which is the second-highest partnership for the second-wicket for Australia in Test cricket.
Marnus Labuschagne scored 162 runs from 238 balls in his innings before getting bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi. He struck a total of 22 fours. Shaheen Shah Afridi also dismissed Steven Smith for 36 runs off 64 deliveries. Matthew Wade scored 38 from 40 balls while remaining not out.
David Warner, on the other end, became the first-ever triple centurion at Adelaide Oval. Warner remained undefeated after scoring 335 runs from 418 balls. He smacked 40 boundaries during his innings, 39 fours and a six. Warner’s 335 surpassed Sir Don Bradman’s unbeaten 334, which was also equaled by Mark Taylor, to be the second-highest individual score for an Australian in Test cricket, second only to Mathew Hayden’s 380 runs.
While 400 definitely looked within reach of David Warner, Australia’s skipper Tim Paine called the batsmen back after as Australia declared on 589/3. All three wickets were claimed by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is currently Pakistan’s best weapon. Yasir Shah conceded 197 runs from his 32 overs, 3 runs short from another double-ton. Mohammad Abbas bowled 29 overs for 100 runs, while debutant Muhammad Musa conceded 114 runs from his 20 overs but also bowled 6 no-balls.
Mitchell Starc strikes, Babar Azam stands alone:
Shan Masood and Imam-ul-Haq came to face the Australian bowlers. Imam-ul-Haq lost his wicket in the 5th over of the innings after scoring just 2 runs. Captain Azhar Ali added only 9 runs after facing 23 deliveries. Shan Masood got caught behind on Josh Hazlewood’s delivery after scoring 19 runs from 50 balls.
Pakistan had lost 3 wickets in an instant for just 38 runs, while on trail by more than 550 runs. As Pakistan was not already in enough trouble, Mitchell Starc came out to bowl and claimed 3 more wickets, all edged. Asad Shafiq fell for 9 runs, and Iftikhar Ahmed could only add 10 for 26 balls, while wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan fell for a duck.
Here is Tim Paine's stunning catch ?pic.twitter.com/R3WpqURAKB
— ICC (@ICC) November 30, 2019
Pakistan was reduced to 89/6 as Pakistani batsmen kept up their poor shot selections, and Mitchell Starc punished them for it. Through all this, Babar Azam stood firm on his crease, held his nerves, and remained unbeaten till the end of the day with his 43 runs from 67 balls with 6 fours, along with Yasir Shah, who have scored 4 runs from 11 balls so far into the innings. Mitchell Starc had claimed 4 wickets for 22 runs in 13 overs, by the end of the day. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood took 1 each.
Pakistan is barely standing at 96/6 after 35 overs, and on trail by 493 runs. The outcome of this match is not that far from sight as Australia continues to dominate their visitors. Day 3 of the 2nd Test is expected to be affected by rain.
