AUS vs PAK 2nd Test (Stumps): In an eventful day of Test cricket at the MCG, Australia ended at 241/6, holding the advantage, but Pakistan demonstrated resilience to stay in the game.
Adding 70 runs to their overnight score, Pakistan made an impact with the new ball. Shaheen Afridi swiftly removed Khawaja and Labuschagne before lunch, and his partner Mir Hamza dismissed Warner and Head in consecutive balls.
Australia found themselves in trouble at 16/4. Although Marsh was dropped on 20, he capitalized on the opportunity, scoring a brisk 96 and shifting pressure back onto the bowling team.
Smith faced a challenging time, with no boundaries in his first 100 balls, but he fought hard to secure a fifty. The scoring rate slowed after Marsh’s dismissal, and Smith fell to the short ball trap in the final over of the day.
Pakistan displayed significant resilience and determination in this Test.
At present, Pakistan are still trailing by 124 runs with just four wickets in their bank in the first innings. Senior batter Muhammad Rizwan is still at the crease for the visitors and he alongside with the tail will want to reduce the first innings lead as much as possible.
AUS vs PAK Day 2 highlights:
World Cup heroes Travis Head and Marnus Labuchagne came out to bat for Australia on Day 2. While Travis Head failed to make a big impact, Labuchagne completed a fine fifty with the bat. Mitchell Marsh also made a handy contribution of 41 runs as the home team posted 318/10 in their first innings. Aamer Jama impressed once again with the ball as he took three wickets.
For Pakistan, skipper Shan Masood and opener Abdullah Shafique stroked fifties with the bat. On the other hand, Babar Azam’s poor run at the international circuit continued as he cleaned up by opposition skipper Pat Cummins. Rizwan is still at the crease for his 29 runs and will look to make an impact with the bat on Day 3. Cummins is leading the charge for the Aussies as he has grabbed three wickets so far. He will look to complete a five-wicket haul on moving day of the AUS vs PAK 2nd Test.
AUS vs PAK: Playing XIs:
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith. Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Nathan Lyon. Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq. Shan Masood (c). Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Agha Salman, Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza.
