- Urdu round-up is attached here
Lahore, 1 December 2019: Yasir Shah’s maiden Test century and Babar Azam’s 97 helped Pakistan fight back in their first innings but Australia succeeded in enforcing follow-on and then reduced the visitors to 39 for three in their second innings on day-three of the second Test being played at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Australia were closing-in on a two-zero series sweep of the ICC World Test Championship day-night match despite Pakistan’s gallant effort with the bat in the first innings after resuming from 96 for six.
Pakistan’s rear-guard action started courtesy a 105-run seventh wicket stand between Babar and Yasir. Babar was unlucky to be dismissed three runs short of his second successive century in the series when he was caught behind by Australian captain and wicketkeeper Tim Paine off Mitchell Starc.
Babar’s stroke-filled 132-ball innings included 11 fours. Yasir carried on from there and added 87 runs for the ninth wicket with Mohammad Abbas (29 off 78 balls). He reached his 50 off 129 balls with five fours and proceeded to convert his maiden fifty into a maiden hundred when he reached the coveted mark off 192 balls with the help of 12 fours.
Yasir eventually fell to Pat Cummins and Pakistan innings was wrapped up soon after for 302 runs, 287 runs behind Australia’s first innings score of 589 for three declared.
Paine enforced the follow-on and Pakistan were left reeling at 39 for three in their second innings when rain brought a premature end to proceedings on day three. Imam-ul-Haq (0), Azhar Ali (9) and Babar (8) were the batsmen dismissed. Shan Masood was batting on 14 with Asad Shafiq (8 not out) giving him company.
Pakistan need another 248 runs with seven wickets in hand to make Australia bat again.
Scores in brief:
Australia 589 for 3 declared, 127 overs (David Warner 335 not out, Marnus Labuschagne 162; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-88)
Pakistan 302 all out, 94.4 overs (Yasir Shah 113, Babar Azam 97; Mitchell Starc 6-66) and 39 for 3 16.5 overs (Shan Masood 14 not out; Josh Hazlewood 2-15)
