8.37 AM Tuesday, 19 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 05:07 06:20 12:29 15:54 18:33 19:47
19 March 2024

Babar, Yasir spin Aussies out to give Pakistan 1-0 lead

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

Pakistan spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah took nine wickets in the second innings as the hosts beat Australia by 221 runs in the first Test on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Australia, resuming on 59 for four, put up stiff resistance throughout the fifth day and managed to drag the match into the final session but were finally all out for 216.

Left-armer Babar took his maiden five-wicket haul in his third test match while debutant leg-spinner Shah chipped in with four as Australia's batsmen showed a familiar vulnerability against spin bowling on slow wickets.

Both spinners took seven wickets each in the match while part-time off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez also got a wicket in the first innings.

Steve Smith (55) and Mitchell Johnson (61) scored dogged fifties to delay the inevitable as Pakistan completed a morale-boosting win, sweetened by the fact that they did not have the services of leading bowlers Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan.

Smith, who batted for 175 delieveries, added 65 for the eighth wicket with Johnson and the duo thwarted Pakistan's bowlers for 90 minutes in the second session before the former was out caught at short leg off Yasir.

Pakistan had multiple chances to break the partnership but failed to make the opportunities count. Babar was the unlucky bowler on most occassions.

Wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed failed to collect the ball with Smith on 37 while captain Misbah-ul-Haq dropped a tough chance at cover with the batsman on 44.

Johnson (65) was also dropped twice, both times off the 35-year-old Babar.

Sarfraz made amends for his earlier mistake by swiftly taking off the bails to stump Johnson, who also added 43 for the ninth wicket with Siddle, to give Yasir his fourth wicket.

Siddle (15) was the last man out to become Babar's fifth wicket.

Australia fought hard in the morning to keep Pakistan at bay for more than 80 minutes but lost three quick wickets once the resistance was broken.

Opener Chris Rogers (43) was bowled by debutant Imran Khan for the only wicket to fall to the fast bowlers in Australia's second innings after he and Smith added 43 for the fifth wicket.

Babar got in on the act by dismissing all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for three. Debutant Marsh prodded forward to a delivery and the catch was held smartly at silly point by Azhar Ali.

Brad Haddin, Australia's last recognised batsman to join Smith, did not last long either and went for a duck as Babar breached his defence to disturb the stumps.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Pakistan ended a 20-year drought against Australia with a deserved 221-run win at Dubai International Stadium to go 1-0 in the two-match series on Sunday.

Despite defiant half centuries by Smith (55) and Johnson (61), Australian crumbled on a spinning track.

Left-arm spinner Babar claimed five for 74 and Shah four for 50.

LAST MAN!
Babar claims his fifth wicket. Aus 216 all out in 91.1 overs.

Peter Siddle c Azhar Ali b Zulfiqar Babar 15 (48b 1x4 0x6)

NINE DOWN!
Johnson out stumped off Shah. Aus 213-9 in 89 overs

Mitchell Johnson st Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 61 (127b 6x4 1x6)

TEA!
Australia have extended play past two losing only Smith (55) while Johnson is unbeaten on 54. Aus 196-8 in 84 overs.

FIFTY!
Johnson slams Babar through midwicket for a boundary to complete his nine Test half century. Aus 192-8 in 81 overs.

The second new ball has been taken with Babar opening with it. Aus 187-8 in 80 overs.

SIX!
Johnson has clubbed Babar over long-on for a maximum to move into the 40s. Aus 179-8 in 79 overs.

OUT!
Smith's defiant knock comes to an end as he flicks Shah to forward short leg. Aus 170-8 in 76 overs.

Steven Smith c Asad Shafiq b Yasir Shah 55 (175b 3x4 0x6)

CENTURY!
Smith whips Shah for only his third boundary to complete his seventh Test half century. Aus 162-7 in 70 overs.

DRINKS!
Smith and Johnson have survived the hour after lunch with Pakistan letting off the hook with some lapses on the field. Aus 156-7 in 68 overs.

FOUR!
Johnson hits the first boundary in 273 balls steering Imran through midwicket. Aus 129-7 in 55 overs.

LUNCH!
Australia are 117-7 in 52 overs at lunch with Babar having claimed four wickets.

OUT!
Babar strikes beating Haddin through the game as Pakistan seek to wrap it up before lunch. Aus 105-7 in 47.1 overs.

Brad Haddin b Zulfiqar Babar 0 (10b 0x4 0x6)

OUT!
Babar returns to the attack and snaps up Marsh off a superb close-in catch as he lunged forward. Aus 101-6 in 43.3 overs.

Mitchell Marsh c Azhar Ali b Zulfiqar Babar 3 (8b 0x4 0x6)

OUT!
Imran strikes in the second over after the break with a delivery that nipped back into the left-hander. Aus 92-5 in 40.3 overs.

Chris Rogers b Imran Khan 43 (131b 1x4 0x6)

DRINKS!
The Australia overnight pair of Rogers (42) and Smith (16) have survived the opening hour adding 32 runs in 16 overs.

Imran Khan comes into the attack replacing Hafeez who has figures of 8-3-15-0. Aus 91-4 in 38 overs.

Hafeez into the attack now replacing Shah who has figures of 11-2-18-2. Aus 76-4 in 32 overs.

Rahat Ali replaces Babar who has figures of 12-3-29-2. Aus 72-4 in 29 overs.

Pakistan open attack with Babar and Shah who bowls a maiden to Rogers in the dustbowl of a Dubai track.

Australia's overnight pair Rogers and Smith are walking out to the middle having a monumental task ahead of them to save the match.

DAY 4 RECAP

Pakistan took a huge step towards victory in the first Test by taking four key Australian wickets after hundreds from Younis Khan and Ahmed Shehzad put them in the driving seat in Dubai on Saturday.

After setting an imposing 438-run target, Pakistan rattled the Australians through a brace of wickets apiece from spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah to leave Australia tottering on 59-4 at stumps on the fourth day, needing six wickets for a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Chris Rogers (23) and Steven Smith (three) were at the crease as Australia need another 379 for an unlikely win.

Australia's best chase to win a Test was way back in 1948 when they made 404-3 against England at Headingley while their best chase against Pakistan was 369-6 at Hobart in 1999.