Cummins Takes 5 But Pakistan Rallies On Day 1

SYDNEY: Australia captain Pat Cummins took 5-61 for his third consecutive five-wicket haul as Pakistan’s brittle top order was again exposed before a combative lower order rally helped the tourists to 313 on Day 1 of the third and final cricket test.

At 96-5 shortly after lunch on Wednesday, Pakistan was in grave danger of being bundled out cheaply after it had won the toss and chose to bat under bright, blue skies at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

But an enterprising counterattack led by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan with a brisk 88, followed by a halfcentury from Agha Salmon and a stunning maiden test half-century by Aamer Jamal helped Pakistan recover to a respectable total.

Australian pair David Warner, playing his final test, and Usman Khawaja had to survive one over from spinner Sajid Khan under fading light before stumps.

Warner (6 not out) in characteristic style smashed the first ball for four, but was lucky later in the over as he survived the ball bouncing over the stumps from a defensive shot. Australia was 6 without loss at stumps.

Much of the pre-match attention may have been on Warner’s last test for Australia, but it was the pace bowlers who stole the spotlight early.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood set the tone with each taking a wicket in the first two overs, before Cummins, coming off a ten-wicket haul in the boxing day test at Melbourne, snared two wickets including the prize scalp of Babar Azam as Pakistan batters crumbled.

From 4-2, Babar and Massood started the rebuild for Pakistan, with Babar attacking the Aussie quick bowlers.

But the rally was short-lived as Cummins removed Babar (26) with a ball that came back at the right-hander and struck him on the pad. Umpire Michael Gough turned down the initial Australian appeal, but the TV umpire overturned the decision.

Saud Shakeel was Cummins’ second wicket, edging behind to Carey to leave Pakistan’s first innings in tatters at 47-4.

Captain Shan Masood (35) and Rizwan shared a 49-run stand either side of the lunch break to steady Pakistan. Mitchell Marsh (1-27) ended that partnership by teasing an edge from Masood which flew through to Smith.

Rizwan went on the attack and made an enterprising halfcentury off 74 balls. He continued to play his shots, but eventually holed out to Hazlewood as Cummins’ brought himself back in to the attack to take his third wicket.

The Aussie skipper got his fourth when he had Sajid caught at midwicket by Nathan Lyon for 15 and a deserved fifth shortly after with Hasan Ali (0) picking out Starc in the deep.