In-form Aussies pile on the runs
DEJA VU: BAGGY GREENS COMPOUND PAKISTAN MISERY
David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne both plundered backto-back centuries as Australia stamped their authority on the opening day of the day-night second Test in Adelaide yesterday.
At the close on a rain-interrupted day, the home team were a dominant 302/1 with the pair building an ominous 294-run partnership, leaving Pakistan with a huge battle to stay in touch.
Warner was not out 166 and Labuschagne unbeaten on 126, following on from their 154 and 185 respectively in the first Test in Brisbane. Their Adelaide partnership was the highest ever in a day-night Test.
“It’s a bit surreal at the moment. It was just amazing to be out there with Davey and to just put on a really big partnerhsip,” said Labuschagne. “We were running hard, I love the intensity of the crease.”
Warner paid tribute to the maturity of his partner, who is playing in only his 11th Test.
“Credit to Marnus for the way he came out and took the bowlers on again, he picked up where he left off at the Gabba,” he said.
“We’re just thrilled to get through that tonight and want to come out tomorrow and put some more runs on the board.”
Pakistan need to win to square the two-match series. The odds were heavily stacked against them before the game began, having lost 13 consecutive Tests in
Australia, and their chances are even slimmer now.
Over the years, taking wickets in Australia has been a challenge for Pakistan and they shuffled their bowling attack for the pinkball Test in a bid to make the most of the conditions.
Veteran seamer Mohammad Abbas, who tormented Australia when he took 17 wickets in two Tests in the UAE last October, returned in place of Imran Khan while 16-year-old pace sensation Naseem Shah was rested.
That handed a debut to 19-yearold medium-fast right-armer Muhammad Musa, but, like in the first Test at Brisbane, none of them could tame Warner and Labuschagne, with the ball hardly doing anything under the lights to trouble them. – AFP