Abbas fiery spell puts Pak on top
Pacer rocks Australia innings with five wickets; Fakhar Zaman’s 66 helps hosts take 281run lead in second Test
Pakistan increased its lead to 281 runs in the second Test on Wednesday after seamer Mohammad Abbas ripped through Australia’s batting lineup with a fivewicket haul and the visitors were bowled out for 145.
Fakhar Zaman (66) notched his second straight half century in his debut Test as Pakistan smoothly reached 144-2 at stumps in their second innings.
Azhar Ali survived an lbw television referral and returned to form with an unbeaten 54. Lefthander Haris Sohail, who was out first ball in the first innings, was not out on 17 at stumps.
Zaman had dominated the Australian spin threat of Nathan Lyon until the offspinner took a blinder off his own bowling. The left-hander, who hit seven fours, drove powerfully but Lyon held on to a ferocious drive two-handedly in front of his face.
Earlier, Australia conceded a massive 137-run lead as Abbas finished with career-best 5-33 when he had the last wicket of Mitchell Starc (34) lbw.
Abbas had reduced Australia to 20-2 overnight after Pakistan recovered well to post 282 through identical knocks of 94 runs each by captain Sarfraz Ahmed and Zaman on the first day.
Abbas picked up his third and fourth wickets inside the first hour on Wednesday when he found the outside edges of Shaun Marsh and Travis Head.
Mitchell Marsh fell to legspinner Yasir Shah and off-spinner Bilal Asif (3-23) struck twice by removing opener Aaron Finch (39) and captain Tim Paine (3) in quick succession as Australia slipped to 91-7 in first session.
Marnus Labuschagne (25) and Starc put on the best partnership of the innings when they contributed 37 runs for the eighth wicket stand before Labuschagne fell to a bizarre run out.
Labuschagne watched the ball hit the stumps at the nonstriker’s end while his bat was in the air as leg spinner Shah got tips of his fingers off Starc’s drive. The Australian wickets fell at more regular intervals, and the batsmen weren’t able to combine for a decent partnership to regain any momentum.
Marsh looked susceptible against Shah’s sharp turning deliveries before edging to Asad Shafiq in the first slip as Australia slipped to 5-75.
Finch, playing in only his second test, appeared to be in control until he fell to Asif’s sharp offspin as Zaman plucked a onehanded diving catch at forward short leg. And just before the first session ended, Paine was adjudged lbw to another sharply turning delivery from Asif.
LYON HAPPY TO SURPASS JOHNSON
Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon was expecting to hear from “big brother” Mitchell Johnson after he surpassed the bristling left-arm fast bowler as his country’s fourth-highest Test wicket taker in the second Test against Pakistan on Tuesday.
The 30-year-old wreaked havoc on Pakistan’s top order on the first day as he took four wickets for no runs in six deliveries.
He had started play level with Brett Lee on 310 wickets and only all-time greats Shane Warne (708), Glenn McGrath (563) and Dennis Lillee (355) are now ahead of him for Australia.
“It’s a massive honour to pass the likes of Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson,” Lyon told reporters.
“I have played a lot of cricket with Mitch and he has been like a big brother to me so I know there will be a banter back and forth on text message.
“I’ve been fortunate to play 80 Test matches for Australia and be in the position to take 314 test wickets. Personally it’s a great achievement and it is something I will look back on when I retire.
“I know my mum and dad are pretty proud but right now it’s about doing my best and helping Australia win cricket tests.”