Australia Collapse On Second Day
WAHAB RIAZ CLAIMED FOUR WICKETS AS PAKISTAN DISMISSED AUSTRALIA FOR 429 ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE FIRST TEST AT THE GABBA IN BRISBANE.
Brisbane; Pakistan pacemen Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir staged a spirited fightback on the second day of the day-night cricket test, but a final-wicket stand of 49 runs helped Australia post a first innings total of 429. Peter Handscomb celebrated his maiden test ton late in yesterday’s opening session, when Australia’s middle order otherwise failed to kick on at the Gabba. Handscomb played on to Wahab in the third over after tea, falling for 105 after being 64 overnight. That dismissal brought together Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird, with the score 380-9.
The tailenders frustrated the tourists, with Lyon striking six boundaries and Bird hammering a six, but Pakistan still snared 7-141 on the second day to drag themselves back into the test. Wahab struck twice including the key scalp of skipper Steve Smith for 130, after the hosts resumed at 288-3. Amir was responsible for one of two dropped catches on day two of the test, but Smith only added a single run after that chance before he was out edging to Wahab. Wahab and Amir picked up four wickets each, with the latter firing out Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Handscomb showed admirable composure amid the fightback.
The Victorian’s strike rate dipped after Smith, Nic Maddinson, Wade and Starc departed in a slump of 4-31. Handscomb, who wasn’t flustered despite the prospect of running out of partners, then raced through the nervous nineties with a couple of boundaries.
“His discipline hasn’t changed from yesterday. He’s willing to bat time to make these runs,” Michael Clarke said on the Nine Network. “He deserves a hundred. He’s worked extremely hard. “It’s been a great test innings.” Pakistan’s bowlers failed to drop their heads despite some more sloppy fielding. Smith, having reached three figures on Thursday after being offered reprieves on 53 and 97, picked out Amir on Friday in the deep. Smith failed to make the most of the fumbled chance, departing the following over when he tried to hammer a wide ball through covers but was out edging. Maddinson, out for a duck on Test debut in Adelaide, was yet to get off the mark in Brisbane when he offered a chance to Azhar Ali at short leg. - AAP