Twitter Reactions: Pakistan’s cautious response after Australia post a mountain

Three Australian batsmen scored hundreds and a couple of Pakistan bowlers did so as well with the ball. The story was pretty similar on the second day of the SCG Test as the Aussies strengthened their grip on the game. After David Warner and Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb also scored a century; the second of his 4-Test old career. Having declared the innings on 538/8, Mitchell Starc & Co. came hard at the visitors and Josh Hazlewood gave them two early setbacks. But towards the end of the day, they did get things in control and at stumps were 126/2.

Renshaw and Handscomb started the day at 167* and 40* with the team score of 365/3. The opener had batted beautifully on the opening day and would have loved to convert his maiden into a double ton but he fell 13 runs short as he inside edged an Imran Khan delivery onto his stumps. Handscomb had by then gained confidence and was ready to lead the batting charge.

He found partners in Hilton Cartwright and wicketkeeper-batsman Matthew Wade who scored 37 and 29 respectively. Handscomb also converted his half century into a hundred but couldn’t carry on longer and was out to via a rare form of dismissal. He went far too back in his crease while facing Wahab Riaz and was out hit wicket.

Riaz was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan as he dismissed three Aussies while spending 89 runs as against Imran Khan and Yasir Shah costing 111 and 167 runs each against three wickets where Imran got a couple and Yasir had one.

Also read – AUS v PAK, 3rd Test, Day 2 Review: Azhar Ali, Younis Khan lead fightback for Pakistan

When they came out to bat in their first innings it was a huge task for Pakistan, they had just conceded close to 600 runs and needed to bat out the day without losing far too many wickets. The Aussie bowlers charged in and had them in trouble. Sharjeel Khan couldn’t survive the initial attack and went down caught by Renshaw against Hazlewood for just 4 runs. No.3 Babar Azam lasted only 4 deliveries before being dismissed by Hazlewood again lbw.

Then there was a period of stability for Pakistan as veteran Younis Khan and their most consistent batsman Azhar Ali got into a partnership, remained unbeaten after their half centuries with 58 and 64 runs respectively and took them home to some comfort.

Here is how Twitter reacted during the day’s play:

1000 Test runs for Younis Khan against Australia. Currently at an average of over 53 #AUSvPAK #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) January 4, 2017

Handscomb bats deep in his crease but in 183 first-class, List A & T20 innings that's the first time he's ever been out hit wicket #AUSvPAK

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) January 4, 2017

Breaking News – Pakistan have signed on a new feliding coach #ausvpak pic.twitter.com/IpOdLkRobj

— Cricketmemes_ (@Cricketmemes2) January 4, 2017

Handscomb just the second Australian ever to make a 50-plus score in each of his first four Tests, after Herbie Collins in 1920-21 #AUSvPAK

— Brydon Coverdale (@brydoncoverdale) January 4, 2017

Matt Renshaw a chance to be 1st Aust to score Test 200 before 21st birthday. Three done it aged 21 – Bradman, Bradman & Bradman #AUSvPAK

— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) January 3, 2017

Azhar Ali – Last 12 matches – 1249 runs, av 65.73 – a 100 against Australia,England & West Indies.

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 4, 2017

Pakistanis sharing in most 100+ stands
67 YOUNIS KHAN*
50 J Miandad
42 Inzamam-ul-Haq
41 M Yousuf
31 AZHAR ALI*
31 Misbah-ul-Haq#AUSvPAK

— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) January 4, 2017

✅ Handscomb bats his way to century number two.

✅ Hazlewood fires.

✅ Pakistan fight hard.

✅ Bob Hawke.

Bring on Day 3!#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/OLvxLJT1Du

— bet365_aus (@bet365_aus) January 4, 2017

Watched test cricket all day. Guess I should have a shower before the Big Bash comes on #AUSvPAK #BBL06

— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) January 4, 2017

After 5 dismal sessions #PAK has owned 1 session in this test match.#AUSvPAK

— Athar Sir Jadeja ? (@cricdrugs) January 4, 2017

After losing two early wickets, Pakistan trail by 412 runs at stumps on day-2. #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/LoJcLqCO7c

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) January 4, 2017

Dear old Bill reckons it's a 'tremendous pitch'. 650 runs and 10 wickets in 2 days isn't tremendous, it's an average-padding road #AUSvPAK

— Simon (@Badgercricket) January 4, 2017

Highest batting avg in a test series by Asian player In Aus:
Sangakkara 124.50
Dravid 123.80
Azhar Ali* 123.00
Gavaskar 117.33 #AUSvPAK

— Rao. (@ImRaoYasir) January 4, 2017

I don't know what you were so nervous about Mickey #ausvpak pic.twitter.com/9B884UtNs6

— Cricketmemes_ (@Cricketmemes2) January 4, 2017

Pakistan go a whole session without losing a wicket #ausvpak pic.twitter.com/xVF4VpNrcO

— Cricketmemes_ (@Cricketmemes2) January 4, 2017

Warner – 100 runs, 2 missed run outs, 1 drop…..

They'll still give him man of the match though…#ausvpak

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) January 4, 2017

David Warner!!! 2 run outs missed and 1 dropped catch!!! ??? what is it, mate? #AUSvPAK

— Vibhuti?? (@VibhutiPonting) January 4, 2017

Warner is having a fucken shocker in the field #AUSvPAK

— Fucken AFL (@fuckenAFL) January 4, 2017

Azhar Ali marks his first Test innings of 2017 with a fifty. Takes his series tally to 372 at an average of 124. #AUSvPAK

— Jamie Alter (@jamie_alterTOI) January 4, 2017

Azhar Ali might be a slow starter, but he still should have put those juicy full tosses away #AUSvPAK

— Pramod Ananth (@pramz) January 4, 2017

Had all of Azhar Ali's catches in this series been taken, he would have just two less wickets than Amir #AUSvPAK

— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) January 4, 2017