Abbas’ triple strike takes Pak closer to big win over Aussies

Dubai, Oct. 10: Hard-working fast bowler Mohammad Abbas took three wickets in seven balls to bring Pakistan closer to victory in the first Test against Australia in Dubai on Wednesday.

The right-arm medium pacer dismissed Aaron Finch (49) and the Marsh brothers — Shaun and

Mitchell — for ducks as Australia slumped from 87 without loss to finish the fourth day at 136-3.

At stumps opener Usman Khawaja was batting on a fighting 50 and Travis Head on 34 as the pair had added an invaluable 49 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand to prolong Australia’s resistance on a weary and

spinning Dubai stadium pitch.

Pakistan will need seven more wickets while Australia require another 326 runs for an improbable victory to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second Test starting in Abu Dhabi from October 16. Abbas said he was “happy to be among the wickets”.

“I used the crease to bring the ball in and got wickets from those deliveries,” he said.

“We need seven more wickets so, God willing, we will get them and get this win for which we have worked very hard and it will be good to take a lead in the series.”

It was an action replay of

the first innings as Australian openers put on 87 — they made 142 in their total of 202 on Tuesday — as Finch was trapped legbefore soon after tea with a sharp incoming delivery from Abbas.

Finch, who took an unsuccessful review, hit five boundaries in his knock.

— AFP

Pakistan (1st innings): 482 Australia (1st innings): 202 Pakistan (2nd innings): Imam-ul-Haq c & b Holland 48, Mohammad Hafeez c Labuschagne b Holland 17, Bilal Asif c Head b Lyon 0, Azhar Ali lbw b Holland 4, Haris Sohail lbw b Labuschagne 39, Asad Shafiq c M. Marsh b Lyon 41, Babar Azam (not out) 28. Extras (b 2, lb 2) 4. Total (for

Abbas 49, Usman Khawaja (batting) 50, S. Marsh c Sarfraz b Abbas 0, M. Marsh lbw b Abbas 0, T. Head (batting) 34. Extras (lb 3) 3. Total (for three wickets in 50 overs) 136. FoW: 1-87, 2-87, 3-87. Bowling: Abbas 11-2-26-3, Hafeez 2-0-10-0, Yasir 15-142-0, Riaz 7-2-13-0, Asif 133-40-0, Sohail 2-1-2-0.