Debutant Asif leaves Aussies in a spin
DUBAI: Test debutant Bilal Asif snatched six wickets to spark a spectacular Australian collapse from 142-0 to 202 all out and put Pakistan in firm command of the first Test in Dubai on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old off-spinner overshadowed his more experienced team-mate Yasir Shah by finishing with 6-36 as his efforts, the third best figures for a Pakistani bowler on Test debut, derailed Australia on a pitch which started to assist spinners on the third day.
Despite being jolted by spinner Jon Holland’s two key wickets of Mohammad Hafeez (17) and Azhar Ali (four), Pakistan closed the day on 45-3, having an overall lead of 325 with seven second-innings wickets intact to force a win.
Opener Imam-ul-haq was unbeaten on 23 while nightwatchman Asif was dismissed for nought, unable to guard Azhar from coming to bat in a crucial stage. But it was a day highlighted by Asif who triggered a memorable Australian collapse against spin in Asia to mark a longawaited Test debut.
By lunch Australia were wellplaced at 137 without loss with Usman Khawaja (85) and debutant Aaron Finch (62), but the slump followed shortly after as the Baggy Greens lost all 10 wickets for just 60 runs. Australia lost all their 10 wkts for 60 runs after the openers had put on 142. The collapse is the third-worst for any side after a century opening stand. The two worst features India (1946) and NZ.
Asif, who had previously played three one-day internationals in 2015, came into his own after pacer Mohammad Abbas removed Finch following an opening stand of 142.
In a spell of 22 balls Asif took Australia have lost their 10 wickets for less than 100 runs since the start of 2016 on seven occasions, the most by any team. England and Sri Lanka have had four such collapses.
four wickets as Australia slumped to 180-5 by tea.
The second session belonged to Asif, who dismissed Khawaja, Shaun Marsh (seven), Travis Head (nought) and Marnus Labuschagne (nought) in the Australia’s last nine wickets for 42 runs are the fewest in their first innings in the last 50 years. After the openers, the highest individual score was Mitchell Marsh’s 12.
space of 29 runs. Asif’s feats on debut had only been bettered by fast bowler Mohammad Zahid (7-66 vs New Zealand in Rawalpindi in 1994) and spinner Mohammad Nazir (7-99 against New Zealand in Karachi in 1969).