In pursuit of 317 to square the series, Pakistan encountered an early setback with the departure of opener Abdullah Shafique. The morning session could have seen them three wickets down, but Shan Masood and Imam Ul Haq weathered some close calls to guide Pak’s team to a precarious 25/1 at the lunch break.
Mitchell Starc and cummins building pressure on Pakistan
Building on Mitchell Marsh’s stellar performance on Day 3, Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc set out to extend Australia’s lead in the morning session. The duo made a sturdy start, pushing the lead beyond 250. However, Shaheen Afridi’s breakthrough, dismissing Starc, triggered a quick succession of wickets. Pat Cummins, welcomed with a resounding reception at the MCG, contributed 28 runs alongside Carey before falling to Aamer Jamal. The umpire’s decision to rule Cummins out on a faint inside edge led to the Australian captain losing a review.
Australia surpassed the 300-run mark in the first hour, but Jamal’s precision bowling claimed Nathan Lyon, ending Australia’s innings at 262. Carey reached his fifty in partnership with Josh Hazlewood, but his innings concluded when Mir Hamza trapped him leg before.
Starc initially posed a challenge for opener Shafique, conceding eight runs in the first over but tightened his line in the subsequent three overs, alongside Hazlewood, to create pressure. Shafique succumbed to the pressure, attempting an ambitious drive in the fifth over, resulting in an edge to Usman Khawaja at third slip.
Australia’s Pat Cummins showcased his bowling prowess by dismissing Shan Masood with a precise delivery caught by Steven Smith. Meanwhile, Imam-ul-Haq fought valiantly, accumulating 123 runs before falling victim to Cummins with an lbw decision. Despite these setbacks, Pakistan demonstrated resilience in their battle against Australia’s bowling attack. Cummins emerged as a formidable force, making crucial breakthroughs.
check here – Ind Vs Sa 1st Test , Indian Cricket In Crisis: Shocking Collapse Unravels Dreams In South Africa – What Went Wrong?
.
1 thought on “Thrilling Day 4 Drama Unfolds as Pakistan’s Survival Hangs in the Balance! Will Starc Strike Again?”