Australia vs Pakistan, 1st Test, Day 4 – 5 Talking Points

Australia inched towards taking a 1-0 lead in the Commonwealth Bank series as Pakistan ended at 382 for 8 at stumps on day four at the Gabba, Brisbane. Australia’s combined bowling efforts which saw Mitchell Starc finish with 3 for 97, Nathan Lyon with 2 for 100 and Jackson Bird snapping 3 for 94 to bring their team just 2 wickets away from winning the match.

Chasing an improbable 490 runs target, Pakistan couldn’t really hold themselves together despite resistance from Azhar Ali and Younis Khan and eventually gave up to the smart and disciplined bowling of the opposition. This was the story till the last session where Pakistan was sitting at 203/5. Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed showed attacking intent before the latter lost his wicket to put Australian were well ahead in the match.

The tail was exposed and the match looked all but over for the tourists. It was anticipated that the Australians would wrap up the match and crack open the beers in the dressing room tomorrow morning if not this night. But, then begun a strong match defining show of resistance in the final session. Azhar Shafiq partnered with the tail-enders Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz to lead Pakistan’s survival.

The play was later extended by two hours but that could not deter the grit of Shafiq who batted spectacularly with Amri and Wahab to make the Australians nervous. But, fortunately, relief came in the final over of the match when Jackson Bird broke the stand with the wicket of Wahab Riaz.

1.Pakistan on a brink of loss despite better performance:

With just 2 wickets in hand, it’s not tough to guess that Pakistan is set to lose the game. This might be a politically incorrect statement to make when a full day of play is till but given the way the Australian bowlers bowled today, the conclusion of the match is quite clear in front of the eyes.

They need just four good deliveries in the next three sessions to win the game whereas Pakistan has close to 90 overs to survive. the odds are obviously stacked heavily against the tourists.

The batting looked improved today and with Shafiq at the crease, the flickering hopes of escaping a loss looks little bright. In fact, Pakistan can fancy re-writing the history if the stars favour. The highest ever total chased in a Test match happens to be 418 by West Indies against Australia. 490 seems is quite but the antics from the tail-enders and Shafiq as lit up the unpredictability factor.

2. Rain causes interruption:

Bad weather consumed a considerable amount of play in the first session. The morning session began on a positive note as Azhar Ali and Younis Khan thwarted the Australian bowlers before rains interrupted and brought an early tea.

The rain break added more optimism in the minds of the Pakistanis who had a pretty productive opening session. Ill weather may have arrived but the ground staff rushed onto the ground and enabled the umpires to start the match as quickly as possible.

The overnight batsmen showed good determination to build a 77 partnership without providing Australia a real chance apart from the outside edge from Younis which fell fractionally short of Matt Renshaw at first slip.

3. Untimely dismissal:

Younis Khan, after playing so well, left the ground leaving everyone frustrated. The veteran right-hander, the only solid hope of staying in the contest for Pakistan, threw away his wicket in the evening session to put Australia in a dominating position.

After a first-ball duck in the first innings, Younis compiled a sensible knock, hitting his 32nd Test match half-century to keep Pakistan in the match. Before notching 65, his previous six Test innings had been 0, 2, 1, 2, 11 and 0. His critical knock, however, ended in a blunder when on 65.

His attempt to reverse sweep off Nathan Lyon ended up in a catch off the gloves straight to Steve Smith who took one of the easiest catches The wicket left Pakistan at 5-173, and two new batsmen at the crease under lights to face the new pink Kookaburra.

‘That is ridiculous!’ #WaqarYounis slams #YounisKhan for his bizarre fashion dismissal at the Gabba. #PAKVSAUS ? [Vid via Cric Aus] pic.twitter.com/AML31mxsC2

— AmMaD (@AmmadZahid) December 18, 2016

4. Only rain can save Pakistan now:

Pakistan’s legendary fast bowler and former coach Waqar Younis has been pointing towards the ‘rain factor’ in the match the moment his side was packed for just 142 in the first session. Over course of the last four days, according to Younis, the chances of Pakistan escaping defeat was in the hands of the rain gods.

What he meant to say was not wrong. Pakistan started in a mediocre manner and gave away the advantage to the opposition who made full use of their weaknesses. As it has been written more twice previously, Pakistan has a full day to survive and save the match.

There is perhaps a very little chance of them doing so. And, this where the rain factor comes in and the Pakistan players and fans would hopes there is a good amount of downpour tomorrow. But, the odds of rain coming down is as slim as Pakistan’ chances of winning the match according to the weather forecast.

5. Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah raise hopes:

Given the way the Australian bowlers bowled today, the conclusion of the match is quite clear in front of the eyes before the last session. However, three wise men, namely Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz decided to add spice to the contest. 

Shafiq, the only pure batsman at left after the dismissal of Sarfraz Ahmed, combined well to forge two highly thrilling stands with fast bowlers Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz. The floodgates seemed to be opened when Sarfraz departed. But, firstly, Amir and Shafiq put up 93 runs for the 7th wicket at a run-rate of over 4.5.

Later, after the dismissal of Amir in the 107th over, Riaz walked in a stood firm with Shafiq to stretch the resilience further, adding 66 runs for the 8th wicket. The latter in the meantime also reached his 10 century. But, Riaz could not survive till stumps and nicked one behind to the slips off Bird to add another twist and tilt the match in the favor of Australia.