Warner, Marnus enjoy big second helpings
MARNUS Labuschagne is Test cricket’s leading runscorer for 2019 as he and David Warner hit a record pink-ball partnership to drive Australia to a commanding 1-302 against Pakistan.
At the Adelaide Oval, Warner and Labuschagne hit big hundreds as part of an unbeaten 294-run stand.
Warner finished not out on 166, hitting back-to-back hundreds for the sixth time in his career after his 154 at the Gabba. Labuschagne’s century was also his second straight and allowed him to overtake Steve Smith at the top of the Test run charts — his unbeaten 126 taking him to 793 for the calendar year.
After Joe Burns fell for four, Warner and Labuschagne did not offer any real chance against an ill-disciplined attack.
Things could have been far worse for the tourists had rain not washed away 17 overs either side of the tea break.
The pair’s stand was the highest in pink-ball history, overtaking the 248 Englishmen Joe Root and Alastair Cook combined for against West Indies in 2017.
It was also the highest second-wicket stand of all time for Australia against Pakistan, surpassing Mark Taylor and Justin Langer’s 279 in Peshawar in 1998.
Warner played wonderfully through the offside, hitting 13 of his 19 boundaries either on the cover drive or cut shot.
Labuschagne, meanwhile, has been sublime off his legs.
Patient early, he has since hit almost half his runs through the midwicket region.
He brought up his century when he turned Yasir Shah off his pads legside, triggering an euphoric celebration.
The tourists meanwhile were their own worst enemies.
They bowled poorly, with debutant Muhammad Musa regularly being far too short and the recalled Mohammad Abbas having little impact.