SYDNEY: Australia came close to victory at the SCG when Pakistan collapsed in their second innings and Babar Azam fell late on day three to end the tortuous series. In the last match of the day, quick Josh Hazlewood picked up the wickets of Saud Shakeel, night watchman Sajid Khan and Salman Agh to spoil Pakistan’s chances of giving Australia a tough score.
Hazlewood went on a rampage, finishing with 4 for 9 from five overs as Pakistan slumped to just 82 runs and reached stumps in a shambles at 68 for 7. At the crease were Aamer Jamal and Muhammad Rizwan, who both scored half-centuries in Pakistan’s opening innings.
Although Pakistan’s hopes of ending their 16-Test losing streak in Australia were dented by their late collapse, the surface is deceptive due to rough patches that produce inconsistent bounce and sharp spin.
Jamal tore through Australia’s lower order to give Pakistan a narrow first innings lead of 14 runs in a frantic final session. However, the visitors’ second innings got off to a disastrous start when Mitchell Starc delivered a superb first over cleanly dismissed opener Adbullah Shafique. Shafique had a terrific start to the series until he fell apart to end up with two wickets, but he was helpless against a late swinging delivery from Starc that rattled the stumps.
In the following over, Pakistan lost more ground when captain Shan Masood misplayed a loose ball from Hazlewood and was caught for a golden duck. Saim Ayub, making his Test cricket debut, was under pressure after losing two catches while Australia batted and conceded a second duck in the first innings. But when Ayub took advantage of Starc’s width and showed his natural aggression with a spectacular uppercut for a six, his anxiety eased. As his confidence grew, he showed contempt for the quick Pat Cummins by smashing his opening strike over mid-on with a gutsy stroke. He then sat alongside Babar, who averaged just 20.6 in the series before being picked off by Cummins three times.
Together, they amassed 57 runs when Ayub fell victim to Nathan Lyon on 33 and was left stranded on the pads in a decision that was not overturned on review. Babar was therefore absolutely essential for Pakistan to get to the stumps, but he could only get past shortstop Travis Head in the 23rd over when Alex Carey took a smart catch.
Australia bounced back nicely from their disastrous first innings earlier in the day. When the highly efficient Mitchell Marsh produced his fourth half-century of the series and combined with Carey for an innings-long partnership of 84 runs, they appeared to be closing in on a significant lead. Marsh struck against the second new ball and took advantage of Ayub’s drop for 7.
After being dropped at the start of Australia’s World Cup, Carey came under pressure in the summer. However, a lifetime half-century in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test gave him a much-needed bounce. He kept the momentum going with some excellent shots over the preferred offside and the pair quickly crossed the half-century mark.
However, Sajid bowled Carey for 38 at the start of tea, sparking a remarkable collapse of 5 for 10. After the tea break, Marsh fell for 54 in the second over when he misjudged Jamal at mid-off. Two balls later, Cummins was out for LBW after falling short of a full toss, which was reversed by DRS.
But in a blustery day’s play, Australia appeared to seize the initiative as Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith overcame a flurry of short balls to build a 79-run partnership for the third wicket, only to be dismissed before lunch.
Before play ended on the second day, Jamal continued his plan against the batsmen by looking for a short-ball strategy. After the slips were removed and there were many fielders on the leg side, Jamal bent his back and attempted a spirited spell but was stopped. Smith, who has struggled with short-run bowling for some time, came perilously close to hitting short midwicket.
Looking to bounce back from a lackluster 2023 in which he averaged 35 in Test cricket, Labuschagne was composed but patient, reaching his half-century with a beautiful stroke while handling seamer Hasan Ali’s slow pace with ease.
When left-arm quick Mir Hamza came back into the attack, Pakistan changed their strategy as there were too many catchers on the offside. When Smith, on 38, hit straight to cover and stared at the pitch stunned before limping off, the plan changed and it worked. Salman bowled Labuschagne for a clean 60 in the next over with a brilliant delivery that skidded off the rough.
