Aussies beat Pakistan, clinch series
LAHORE: Pakistan failed Friday to hold out in the last session of the third and final Test which Australia won by 115 runs to clinch the series 1-0.
The hosts were dismissed for 235 in their second innings on a worn-out wicket as Australia enjoyed a successful end to their first Test series in Pakistan since 1998. Resuming on 73/0, and entering the final session at 190/5, Pakistan collapsed against veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon, who got plenty of turn and bounce from a fifthday wicket and finished with 5/83 from 37 overs.
Australia were rewarded for setting Pakistan a challenging target of 351 after boldly declaring their second innings at 227/3. Pakistan had conceded a decisive 123-run lead after scoring 268 in their first innings in reply to Australia’s 391.
Lyon bowled an unchanged marathon spell of 28 overs on the last day. Pacer Pat Cummins clean bowled No. 11 Naseem Shah to finish off Pakistan.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq (70) and captain Babar Azam (55) scored fighting half-centuries but the rest of Pakistan’s batters crumbled against the menacing reverse swing of Cummins, who took 3/23, and the sharp spin of Lyon.
The first Test ended in a tame draw at Rawalpindi where the pitch was rated as below average by the ICC. Babar’s brilliant 196 in more than 10 hours denied Australia a win at Karachi
where Pakistan played out 171.4 overs in more than five sessions and forced an epic draw.
Earlier, Pakistan were 136/2 at lunch as Australia took advantage of a controversial decision against Azhar Ali on an intriguing last day.
Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq, who scored a century in each innings in the drawn first test, batted resolutely and was unbeaten on 66 after resuming on 42. Captain Babar Azam whose marathon 196 lifted Pakistan to force an epic draw at Karachi in the second Test, was not out on 19.
But the last day’s pitch was already playing tricks where both Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson has started troubling the batters with some sharp turning deliveries and awkward bounce.
Azhar (17) was adjudged caught close to the wicket by the TV umpire after the batter went for a sweep against Lyon and the ball popped out to Steve Smith. On-field umpire Ahsan Raza ruled in the batsman’s favor but Australia went for television referral and after several inconclusive replays the TV umpire Asif Yaqoob overturned the decision. Cameron Green struck in his second over when he had Shafique caught behind as the batter tried to push the ball away from his body.
Australia 391 and 227/3 dec (Usman Khawaja 104*, David Warner 51; Naseem Shah 1/23) bt Pakistan 268 and 235 (Imam-ul-Haq 70, Babar Azam 55; Nathan Lyon 5/83).