Pakistan pacer bagged a five-wicket haul on second day of practice match
12 November, 2019
PHOTO COURTESY: Cricket Australia
Pakistan were 7/0 in their second innings, with an overall lead of 313 runs, at the close of play on the second day of the three-day practice match against Australia A in Perth.
Openers Azhar Ali and Shan Masood were unbeaten on one and four runs, respectively, after batting for only three overs towards the end of day two.
In response to Pakistan’s first innings total of 428, Australia found themselves in all sorts of trouble as pacer Imran Khan Sr left them reeling at 9/57. The Pakistan quick could do nothing wrong in his first spell as he claimed a well-deserved five-wicket haul.
First wicket
Oh no...
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
Joe Burns makes a golden duck after a very full delivery from Imran Khan.
Watch #AusAvPAK: https://t.co/fej6gSpsJZ pic.twitter.com/Zo9ioI4Ahk
Second wicket
What a ripper from Imran Khan!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
Australia A are five down now.
Watch #AusAvPAK: https://t.co/fej6gSpsJZ pic.twitter.com/mKyF0nJoyF
Third wicket
Chopped on! 😓
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
Australia A in lots of trouble.
Watch #AusAvPAK: https://t.co/fej6gSpsJZ pic.twitter.com/2SHxZl0r9j
Fourth wicket
Australia A lose their seventh wicket.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
Imran Khan is wreaking havoc in Perth.
Watch #AusAvPAK: https://t.co/fej6gSpsJZ pic.twitter.com/OvLvZIQZI0
Fifth wicket
Five wickets for Imran Khan!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 12, 2019
Watch #AusAvPAK: https://t.co/fej6gSpsJZ pic.twitter.com/NfJgwcZjCf
Despite having the home side on the ropes, Pakistan failed to dislodge the final wicket partnership between middle-order batsman Cameron Bancroft and tailender Riley Meredith.
The partnership was finally broken by pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi as Pakistan dismissed Australia A for 122, bagging a handsome lead of 306 runs. Bancroft was unlucky to be dismissed, one shy of his half-century, for 49.
Apart from the scintillating spell of fast-bowling by Imran, all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed also chipped in with two vital wickets of Usman Khawaja and Travis Head. Afridi bagged two wickets while leg-spinner Yasir Shah claimed one wicket.
Despite enjoying another good day in the field, Pakistan will be slightly worried by the fitness of wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who was struck on his thumb while batting, as he went off the field after keeping midway through the Australian innings.
Earlier, Pakistan resumed their first innings at the overnight score of 336/3 and ended up at 428 all out with batsmen Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq top-scoring with 157 and 119 runs, respectively. The duo were declared retired out at the beginning of second day’s play as they decided against coming out to bat.
Tailenders Yasir Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi were involved in an exciting passage of play with the bat as they stitched a 67-run partnership for the eight wicket to help Pakistan get past the 400-run mark. Shah was eventually dismissed after scoring 53 runs off 70 balls while Afridi notched up 25 runs off 54 balls.
For Australia A, pacer Jhye Richardson was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/79 in 29 overs. Meanwhile fellow fast-bowlers, Meredith and Michael Neser claimed two wickets each.
