Fakhar, Sarfraz in rescue act
– Debutant opener Fakhar Zaman and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed both missed hundreds by six runs, but still revived Pakistan on the first day of the second and final Test in Abu Dhabi yesterday.
Fakhar and Sarfraz scored 94 each and helped Pakistan recover from 57/5 to a total of 282 after winning the toss and electing to bat on a slow turning pitch at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Before the close Pakistan had grabbed two wickets, including that of Usman Khawaja for three, as Australia finished on 20/2, with Aaron Finch on 13 and
Abu Dhabi
nightwatchman Peter Siddle dismissed off the last ball of the day for four.
Australia trail Pakistan by 262 runs with eight wickets intact.
Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas had Khawaja – who scored a fighting 141 to lead Australia’s fightback for a draw in the first Test in Dubai last week – caught behind for his 50th Test wicket in 10 Tests.
Abbas became joint second fastest Pakistani to the milestone of 50 wickets with Waqar Younis, Mohammad Asif and Shabbir Ahmed. The record is held by team-mate Yasir Shah who completed 50 wickets in nine matches.
Abbas then trapped Siddle for figures of 2/9.
Earlier Zaman and Sarfraz found form with fighting and innings-reviving knocks, taking the attack to the bowlers after spinner Nathan Lyon had rocked Pakistan in the morning with figures of 4/12.
Zaman hit eight boundaries and a six as he and Sarfraz added 147 runs. Zaman was trapped leg-before by leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne for 94, becoming the fourth Pakistan batsmen to be dismissed in the 90s on his debut. –