SARFRAZ, FAKHAR RESCUE PAKISTAN
The 22-yards of Abu Dhabi wicket has once again bemused one and all on Tuesday. At the end of Day One of the Test series decider, Australia were 20 runs for loss of two wickets while Pakistan, batting first, were bundled out for 282.
Yes, 12 wickets fell on the opening day, a never-before witnessed phenomenon in Abu Dhabi.
The patch of grass seen till Monday was shaved off and after just an hour of play, the wicket started to assist spinners. Chief tormentor Nathan Lyon (4 wickets for 78 runs) and part-timer Marnus Labuschagne (3 wickets for 45 runs) reaped maximum benefits.
However, batsmen who applied themselves and were willing to spend time amassed runs. Debutant Fakhar Zaman (94 from 198 balls) and embattled skipper Sarfraz Ahmed (94 from 129 balls) — both itching to prove themselves — played gems to rescue their side, who were once tottering at 57 for five wickets, with a 147-run partnership.
It wasn’t best of start from Pakistan after choosing to bat, as opener Mohammad Hafeez (4) fell to a stunning catch from Labuschagne. The ball hit his thigh, knee, and hand to finally get nestled between Labuschagne’s legs and onto chest.
Fakhar and Azhar Ali steadied the innings with a 57-run partnership. But Ali (15) once again failed to push on after a start and returned spooning a return catch to Lyon.
And then Pakistan succumbed to some Lyon magic. On their home ground at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, the likes of Haris Sohail (0), Asad Shafiq (0) and Babar Azam (0) didn’t apply themselves and all hopped onto Lyon’s share taxi back to the shades of the pavilion. Haris and Shafiq were caught while Babar was bowled. The Pakistan batsmen were foxed by Lyon’s flight as they attempted to drive inside out against the spin.
Pakistan slipped from 57 for 2 wickets to 57 for five, leaving coach Mickey Arthur devastated.
Amid this commotion, Sarfraz walked out. The determined captain took the fight back to Australia with awesome counterattack. He pounded Peter Siddle for a couple of boundaries. Fakhar, meanwhile, reached his maiden fifty just after the lunch session whereas Sarfraz raced to his half ton off 52 balls.
Once again Jon Holland was targeted. Fakhar hit a massive six to take Pakistan past the 200 mark. However, Fakhar was trapped by part-time spinner Labuschagne just before tea. Labuschagne then got Bilal Asif and later the big one of Sarfraz. The skipper on 90 was struck by Mitchell Starc’s ripper and tried to hang on to end his four-year wait for a Test century but fell six short. Then Yasir Shah (28 runs) played a cameo to push Pakistan to 282.
In reply, pacer Mohammad Abbas in his opening burst removed Usman Khawaja and night watchman Peter Siddle. Abbas is now the joint-secondfastest Pakistani bowler to 50 Test wickets. Those two wickets have wrested slight advantage to Pakistan.
Australia will start second day trailing by 262 runs with eight wickets in hand. Yet another absorbing contest is in store on Wednesday.