Aussies slump to humiliating defeat as Abbas rips through lineup

REELING from a knee injury to Usman Khawaja, Australia has slumped to a crushing 373run defeat in the second Test in Abu Dhabi after seamer Mohammad Abbas ripped through the tourists to hand Pakistan a 1-0 series victory.

Chasing a whopping 538 to win, a deflated Australian batting line-up left one man down by Khawaja’s injury was bowled out for 164 shortly after lunch on day four.

Australia’s grim prospects ahead of the home summer were writ large as it suffered its fourth-highest losing Test margin by runs.

Man of the match Abbas continued his phenomenal series to snare 10 wickets across both innings. It is Pakistan’s biggest-ever winning Test margin by runs.

Serious questions will linger about how Australia managed to end up so far behind the game after an inspired Nathan Lyon spell left Pakistan reeling at 5-57 in the first innings.

Australia’s bowlers failed to press their advantage after Lyon’s brilliance.

Tim Paine’s men resumed at 1-47 yesterday with hopes of at least putting up a fight after showing tremendous mettle to secure a draw in the first Test in Dubai.

But on a day that began with news Khawaja had torn the meniscus in his left knee, the Australians looked drained and down for the count. Travis Head’s nick to Abbas on 36 in the seventh over of the day sparked a woeful collapse of 4-7 in 26 balls.

Abbas struck again in his following over to dismiss Mit- chell Marsh (5) after Pakistan successfully reviewed the notout decision for lbw.

Aaron Finch also fell lbw to Abbas on 31 and Paine followed three balls later. Rookie batsman Marnus Labuschagne fought grimly in just his second Test to top- score with 43 before becoming the fifth Abbas victim for the day.