Pakistan target win over Aussies
An all-round performance by batsmen and bowlers has placed Pakistan in driver’s seat of the Test series decider against Australia at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Chasing a record 538 runs to win, Australia ended the third day at 47 for loss of Shaun Marsh to belligerent Mir Hamza.
Aussies require another 491 to win the match or survive 180 overs of upbeat debutant Hamza, pacer Mohammad Abbas, spinners Yasir Shah and Bilal Asif for a draw. The task ahead is akin to Abu Dhabi Tour cycling’s decisive mountain stage to Jebel Hafeet, the only difference being Australia never had a trial run of scaling anything beyond 400-mark and taste success in the 21st Century. And their key man Usman Khawaja is not fully fit too. All the premonitions suggest Australia will run but fall before the climb or very well run out of steam.
Pakistan powered by 133-run sixth-wicket stand between Babar Azam (99) and Sarfraz Ahmed (81), and contribution from Azhar Ali (64) declared at 400 for nine wickets.
In the morning, Australia in their bid to stay relevant went all out to get Haris Sohail and Azhar early. Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon piled pressure through three maidens — two of which were consumed by Haris. The batsman tried to break free but was floored by Lyon’s flight and got stumped.
Amid pressure and an early wicket, there was a comic relief. Azhar edged Siddle and assumed it had gone for four but hadn’t. Azhar, instead of completing the run, stopped mid pitch to chat with Asad Shafiq as Mitchell Starc threw the ball for keeper Tim Paine to gleefully inflict a run out.
Starting at 144 for 2 wickets, Australia lost two batsmen – Haris (17) and Azhar (64) – for just 16 runs in nine overs.
Australia saw an opening with Asad and off-colour Babar together at the crease. However, both compensated for their first-inning ducks with sensible performances. They soaked pressure, rotated strikes and punished loose balls to have lunch together with a 72-run stand off some 20 overs and took Pakistan to 232. The duo had added just three more runs after lunch.
In-form Sarfraz joined Babar and the duo upped the ante. Boundaries flowed as they effortlessly smacked and swept the likes of Lyon, Holland and Labuschagne. Babar reached his fifty of 77 balls and Sarfraz got to his own in 65 balls. By tea session, Babar (90) and Sarfraz (60) steered Pakistan to 350 runs from 102 overs and to an overall lead of 487.
Post tea, it was about the magical three-figure mark. Babar steadily went past his highest of 90, then spent a maiden and more before crossing hoodoo of 94 but Mitchell Marsh trapped him leg-before on 99 to deny a well-deserved ton.