Win boosts Aussies before India series

MELBOURNE: Australia captain Steve Smith believes the unlikely victory over Pakistan in the second Test yesterday can galvanise his team as they brace for stiffer challenges against India at the end of the home summer.

With rain reducing the Test to a final day shootout, Australia ran through Pakistan for 163 inside 54 overs to close out an innings and 18-run win in the final session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The win gave Australia an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with the third Test in Sydney next week, and a valuable shot of confidence for a team in transition.

Australia were effectively rebooted after being thrashed by South Africa in Hobart, a loss which surrendered the Test series to the Proteas, but have now won their last three matches in a row.

“It can give you that belief, to know you’re never out of the game or you can pull a win out of your hat from nowhere,” Smith said.

“It was quite remarkable the way we were able to do that today. Everything went to plan – it was one of those days.

“Hopefully the guys can take a lot of confidence out of the way they’ve played.”

Smith was named man of the match for smashing an unbeaten 163 before declaring Australia’s first innings at a mammoth 624-8 just before lunch.

However, paceman Mitchell Starc was unlucky not to receive the award, having blasted 84 with the bat in the morning, including a record seven sixes at the MCG, and returned figures of 4-36 to close out the win.

Smith paid tribute to the dominant left-armer but was also pleased for spinner Nathan Lyon, who returned to form with a three-wicket spell in the middle session that broke open Pakistan’s second innings.

From there, Smith withdrew the spinner after tea and had Starc and pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird rattle through the last five wickets as the ball reversed.

“We’re still a work in progress, we’re a young team and I’m proud of the boys,” the 27-year-old said. – Reuters