AUS v PAK, 2nd Test, Day 3 Review: Warner and Khawaja give a firm reply to Pakistan

David Warner and Usman Khawaja piloted Australia’s response after Azhar Ali amplified his century into his second double century of the year to help Pakistan declare at a commanding 443/9 on the Day three of the second Test at the MCG. Australia lost the young Matt Renshaw early but Warner and Khawaja, with their contrasting batting approach, steered Australia to 278/2.

Pakistan resumed batting at 310/6 and declared two overs after the start of the second session. Misbah ul Haq waited for Azhar Ali to complete his double century after the Lunch session before giving Australia a chance to bat on the featherbed.

Warner’s aggressive stroking and Khawaja’s calm approach underlined the last two session play. Renshaw, who has been quite impressive so far, saw his stumps disturbed after a failed attempt to sweep leg-spinner Yasir Shah.

Warner and Khawaja put together a fine 198 runs stand for the 2nd wickets at a rate of 5.55 runs per over. Warner, on the way of building the stand, ended his century drought and slammed his first century since January 2016. Khawaja, however, was not the fortunate one as he missed out completing his triple figure mark today itself, remaining not out at 95.

Pakistan tail is becoming reliable with each passing Test. After nearly pulling off the heroic game at the Gabba, the tail enders again joined the party and contributed brilliantly to the Pakistan total. The rains continued to affect the game as it delayed the start of the play by nearly half hour. When the game resumed, Australia began on a bright note on a damp day as Starc got rid of Amir who could add only one run to his over 28 and departed after nicking one behind on the leg side to wicket-keeper Matthew Wade.

Rains again returned and caused an interruption. Soon after resting for nearly an hour, the Ali walked with his new batting partner Sohail Khan as Australia hoped for more quick wickets. However, Sohail Khan quickly launched himself with his attacking approach and formed a highly valuable 118 runs alliance with 118 runs for the 8th wicket, the second highest for Pakistan in this match.

Sohail’s free-flowing batting got him his maiden half century but soon a goof-up in the 125th over brought his as well as the end of a fine stand when Nic Maddinson aimed at the stumps perfectly to run catch him short of the crease. The burly fast bowler can blame himself for his sluggish response from the non-striker’s end. Ali, batting on 198, called for a quick single but Sohail was very slow and eventually was run narrowly.

Ali, nevertheless, soon completed his milestone and Misbah announced the end of the innings after Wahab Riaz threw his wicket.  Ali, returning at 205, bettered Virender Sehwag’s 195 as the highest individual score by an Asian at the MCG but finished only three runs short of Viv Richards’ 32-year-old record for the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Test match on this ground.

Australia’s response was quick and highly entertaining. In just 58 overs of play in the last two sessions, they cruised to a comfortable score at a run rate of more 4.50 with Warner and Khawaja dominating the show.

Warner was, in fact, the star of the day and clobbered the Pakistanis to all corners. His approach saw Australia got off to a breezy start where he added 46 for the opening wicket with Renshaw (10) before the later departed. The left-hander then found an able ally in Khawaja and the duo catapulted the Australian scoreboard with ease.

The only chance Pakistan perhaps had was the most convincing one when Wahab Riaz got the left-hander bowled on 81 but the delivery turned out to be illegal as the left-hander overstepped the bowling crease, giving Warner a chance to reach his 17th Test ton. Riaz, in fact, struggled a lot with the no-ball line and bowled 10 no-balls, eight of which came in his opening spell of eight overs, a worrying fact for Pakistan.

The slam-bang form of run scoring did not take any pause as Warner looked easily cruising towards 150 runs mark but unfortunately could do so as Riaz finally got Warner out off a legal delivery to break the mammoth stand.

Brief scores: 

Pakistan: 443/9d (Azhar Ali 205*; Josh Hazlewood 3/53)