Pacer Mitchell Starc confirmed his class of reverse swing bowling, bundling out Pakistan 148 to offer Australia a lead of 489 on the finish of the third day’s play of the second Test on the National Stadium in Karachi on Monday.
After Australia posted an imposing 556/9 declared, a Starc triple deal with helped blast Pakistan out for a meagre 148. The guests selected to not implement the follow-on and reached 1-81, a lead of 489 runs, at stumps on Monday’s third day of play. The Australians, with Usman Khawaja not out 35 and Marnus Labuschagne unbeaten on 37, are in sight of their first win on this collection.
Starc ripped via Pakistan’s top-order, his 3-29 that includes wickets on consecutive balls — he was on a hat-trick for the fifteenth time in worldwide cricket.
Starc first scalped Azhar Ali (14) after which Fawad Alam for a golden duck in successive deliveries, following spinner Lyon eradicating Imam ul-Haq (20) and Swepson operating out Abdullah Shafique (13) with a direct hit from backward level. Those 4 wickets left Pakistan 4-60. Just 14 runs later, Rizwan was dropped by Steve Smith at slip-off Cummins.
Skipper Babar Azam (36) was the one batsman to move 20 and the final pair — No.10 Nauman Ali and No.11 Shaheen Shah Afridi — featured within the highest partnership of the innings, 32 runs.
Earlier, Australia resumed the day on 505/8, including some beneficial runs within the first half-hour of the morning session earlier than declaring on 556/9, courtesy of skipper Pat Cummins and debutant Mitchell Swepson’s unbeatable 51-run last-wicket partnership.
Swepson in his debut innings performed a vital knock of 15 not out as he made positive Australia didn’t lose the ultimate wicket, whereas Cummins from the opposite finish performed a formidable 35 not out that included three sixes earlier than declaring.
Pakistan’s response to the mammoth complete of Australia bought off to a shaky begin. They misplaced their openers early, permitting the guests to fully take management of the sport.
Brief scores: Australia 556/9 d & 81/1 in 17 overs, (Usman Khawaja 35 not out, David Warner 7, Marnus Labuschagne 37 not out, Hasan Ali 1/14) lead, Pakistan 148 all out in 53 overs; (Imam-ul-Haq 20, Babar Azam 36, Nauman Ali 20 not out; Starc 3/29, Swepson 2/32 ) by 489 runs.
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