In a massive heartbreak for Mitchell Marsh, the Australian all-rounder missed out on a century at the ongoing AUS vs PAK by just a mere 4 runs. Marsh was dismissed by Mir Hamza following a spectacular catch at first slip by Salman Ali Agha after scoring 96 runs from 130 deliveries with 14 boundaries.
Marsh came in right after the consecutive dismissal of Travis Head and David Warner by Mir Hamza. Smith partnered with Marsh, and Marsh quickly initiated a counterattack, hitting Aamer Jamal for three fours in the 14th over to apply pressure on the bowlers.
Australia reached the 50-run mark in 15.2 overs, with Marsh securing the fourth boundary off Jamal. Smith played the anchor role, supporting Marsh’s aggressive play. The pair achieved a 50-run partnership in 87 balls.
As the innings progressed, Marsh took on Pakistan’s lead pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, hitting boundaries. The all-rounder achieved his third successive fifty of the series in 70 balls, featuring eight fours. Australia reached the 100-run mark in 28.4 overs. The duo’s solid performance allowed Australia to finish the session without losing a wicket.
Marsh in fact survived a scare as Abdullah Shafiq dropped a catch early in the 16th over of the innings, when Aamer Jamal induced an edge from the all-rounder. Attempting an expansive drive through the off-side to dispatch the fullish delivery, Marsh, unfortunately, failed to make a connection with the middle of the bat.
In the earlier stages, skipper Pat Cummins’ five-wicket haul had put Australia in a commanding position. However, Pakistan made a comeback as Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered two crucial blows, unsettling the hosts in the early part of the third day’s opening session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday.
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