Pakistan cricket team, after losing by 360 runs on the first day to Australia, the team looked strong today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and elected to bowl first. But despite their best efforts it was a no go for the Pakistan cricket team. Also check out India’s magic in 2024 wave of sports as well as the Guardian’s article on day-1.
Headlines of Pakistan vs Australia
- Pakistan best effort resulted in a no go.
- Rain interruption during mid day.
- Multiple missed catches harmed Pakistan.
- Pakistan dropped a catch again that resulted in giving Travis Head a chance in the final over.
As the match began, David Warner and Usman Khawaja took the field as the opening batsmen. Usman Khawaja and David Warner, the seasoned combination, got their team off to a great start.
Pakistan needed a strong start, which they achieved due in large part to a crisp opening spell from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza. With heavy cloud cover and extreme heat, Shaheen believed he had given the visitors the perfect start by having Warner edge to first slip, but Abdullah Shafique shelled the simple opportunity and Warner was allowed off while on 2.
There was a small rain interruption during mid-day but Pakistan remained close even after the break.
The match ended with 66 overs bowled, so we only lost approximately 20 to rain interruption during mid-day. Given the duration of the delay, this isn’t too awful. But Pakistan may have been able to apply more pressure if Shafique had held onto Warner earlier in the day.
The ball swung both ways, but Australia cricket team batted disciplinedly; despite this, Pakistan took a wicket at the stroke of lunch, which was taken by Agha Salman. David Warner attempted a big drive but was thrown out.
Marnus Labuschagne played admirably and escaped two LBW appeals, but Smith did not, as he edged one to the keeper.
Pakistan held their footing and captured three wickets as the game progressed, but it was all they could take. That truly shows how Pakistan best effort resulted in a no go.
Shaheen Afridi greets Travis Head at the crease with a huge full toss that goes straight at his head on his third ball.
Travis Head’s strong performance saved Australia cricket team from many near calls, while Marnus Labuschangne also played important roles.
Smith was given two lives—Babar losing a difficult chance at cover and rescuing himself with an LBW review—but was eventually undone by a successful Pakistan review that showed the tiniest outside edge on a caught-behind appeal.
Travis Head played his typical aggressive strokes, nearly sending him on his way as he sliced at a wide Agha Salman ball in the final over of the day, but skipper Shan Masood was unable to scoop a fine opportunity.
Hamza’s ball was superb, but an inside edge onto the pads saved Marnus! Great inswinger with a 65-year-old ball that has never stopped swinging all day. Lovely ball by Hamza, who has been outstanding today.
Shan Masood made a wonderful effort at second slip, jumping high to his left and getting a touch on it, but the ball just didn’t hold.
Multiple missed catches harmed Pakistan and allowed Australia to reach stumps on 3-187 in 66 overs. And this is the live score Pakistan vs Australia. The first day of the Boxing Day test is out and finished.
In Conclusion:
Today’s Australia vs Pakistan match clearly shows how lack of fielding resulted in a loss for the Pakistan cricket team. If Pakistan hadn’t failed at catching the ball the table might have resulted in favor of Pakistan.