Ahmed, Zaman respond to roar of Lyon

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed and opener Fakhar Zaman, on his debut, both hit 94 to help the hosts recover on the first day of the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi.

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon had rocked Pakistan during the morning session with four wickets in the space of just six deliveries to leave the home side struggling on 57 for five.

However, Zaman helped settle the innings down alongside Ahmed and the pair were able to push the score past 200 before the opener, who hit eight boundaries and one six, was eventually trapped leg before by Marnus Labuschagne.

Leg-spinner Labuschagne also picked up the wicket of the Pakistan captain, as he finished with three for 45 from his 12-over spell.

Tailender Yasir Shah added a useful 28 before he was bowled by Mitchell Marsh, with Pakistan’s first innings ending soon afterwards at 282 all out.

Off-spinner Lyon had, though, earlier done the damage with an impressive spell from which first saw Azhar Ali caught and bowled for 15.

Haris Sohail, who made a maiden century in the first Test, Asad Shafiq and Babar Azam were then all swiftly sent back to the pavilion for ducks by the end of the 22nd over.

In reply, Australia lost opener Usman Khawaja cheaply for three in the fifth over, before Mohammad Abbas struck again with the last delivery of the day to trap nightwatchman Peter Siddle lbw on four. Aaron Finch was 13 not out at stumps, with the tourists 20 for two after seven overs.

Sarfraz, meanwhile, will face a fitness test ahead of day two after he was struck by a ball from Mitchell Starc on his unprotected left forearm while batting. England’s Moeen Ali believes it is essential every player and fan can trust what they are seeing on the cricket pitch after Sanath Jayasuriya was charged with breaching the sport’s anti-corruption code.

Jayasuriya is a giant of Sri Lankan sport – a World Cup winner, former captain and selector of the national

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