Lyon bites but Pak back on their feet

Abu Dhabi, October 16 

Pakistan recovered from losing five wickets before lunch to post a respectable 282 and then removed Australia’s openers before close of play on the opening day of the second and final Test today. The tourists were 20/2 after seven overs going into the second day. 

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon took four wickets in six balls to leave Pakistan reeling at 77/5 at lunch. However, debutant opener Fakhar Zaman and captain Sarfraz Ahmed scored 94 each to help their side claim the advantage in the afternoon session. The hosts, forced to settle for a draw in the first Test in Dubai after a desperate rearguard action from the Australians, won the toss and chose to bat. The tourists, however, bowled with spirit and pace, and Mitchell Starc struck in the fourth over when Mohammad Hafeez played a rising delivery straight to Marnus Labuschagne at short leg.

Azhar Ali (15) and Haris Sohail (0) were removed on consecutive deliveries by Lyon, and although Asad Shafiq fended off the hat-trick ball, he too went for a duck after a DRS review. The fourth wicket, two balls later, was the best of the four, with Babar Azam bowled for nought and Pakistan left reeling at 57/5.

Soild partnership 

Zaman and Ahmed did more than steady the ship, however, by combining for a partnership of 147 to kill off Australia’s momentum. Zaman was eventually trapped LBW by Labuschagne. The leg-spinner then had Bilal Asif caught for 12 by Aussie captain Tim Paine. A lapse in judgement from Ahmed saw him caught by Peter Siddle six runs short of his century as he sliced high to cover to become Labuschagne’s third victim of the day. 

Australia’s hopes of chasing down 282 took two blows in quick succession in the last seven overs of the day. Abbas claimed the prize wicket — his 50th in Test cricket — of Pakistani-born Australia opener Usman Khawaja after four overs, and then removed Siddle to leave Australia shell-shocked on 20/2 at the close of play.  Brief scores: Pakistan 282 (Fakhar 94, Sarfraz 94; Lyon 4/78, Labuschagne 3/45); Australia 20/2 — Reuters