Twitter Reactions: Pakistan seven wickets away from taking a 1-0 lead

Pakistan all but ensured that they will be taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series against Australia in Dubai. Despite a stellar resistance from their openers, Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja, the visitors once again lost their way thanks to the continued poor show by the middle-order. Both the Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell, bagged ducks in the second innings and from 87/0, the score suddenly looked 87/3 and there was a fear of Australia imploding once again.

However, that was not to be as Khawaja and Travis Head played exceptionally well. While the former tackled all the pressure his partner eased himself after getting off the mark in Test cricket. The left-hander played his shots and most importantly, the use of sweep shot was effective from him.

Mohammad Abbas was the best bowler for Pakistan as he exploited the conditions beautifully and reversed the ball significantly. He didn’t let Finch get to his second half-century in as many innings and nipped out the Marsh brothers cheaply to leave the opponents reeling. But Khawaja and Head didn’t perturb and ended the day on 136/3 with Australia still needing 326 runs to win on the final day while Pakistan would feel they are the favourites with seven wickets still to go.

Pakistan bat Australia out of the game

Earlier in the day, Haris Sohail and Imam-ul-Haq rebuilt the innings from 45/3. They attacked the bowlers whenever there was a bad ball and stitched a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket. Just when it felt that the Aussies are looking felt, Jon Holland fluffed the latter and dismissed him on 48. Soon, Sohail was undone by the debutant Marnus Labuschagne on 39.

But the duo of Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq carried on and made batting look extremely easy. Both of them added 71 runs in quick time as Pakistan looked to declare in the post-lunch session. Shafiq was more animated and he lost his wicket in the process after scoring 41 runs. At 181/6, Pakistan declared to set a target of 462 for Australia with a minimum of 137 overs to play.

Khawaja and Head would be looking to play out time as much as they can on the final day while the hosts will be keen to wrap things up soon.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of the day:

Mohammad Abbas is like a surgeon with a cricket ball in hand. Such discipline and so precise. #AUSvPAK

— ian bishop (@irbishi) October 10, 2018

Great work Aron

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) October 10, 2018

Peter Siddle and Mitch Starc are discovering what it is like to be a fast bowler on the sub-continent. Most of the time you are watching someone else bowl!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 10, 2018

A reminder that @Mohmmadabbas111 is World Class – 3 more to the tally. #PakVAus https://t.co/u0rBQ8J29x

— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) October 10, 2018

Some said he's not a typical Pakistani pace bowler.
Some said he's not fast enough.
Some said he lacks aggression.
Some said he will be useless on slow pitches.
Mohammad Abbas 7 wickets for 49 runs so far#PAKvAUS #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) October 10, 2018

Is there a tone of panic in Sarfraz voice when he is speaking to his players? #fieldplacements? #toodefensive
Sarfraz needs to calm down and learn from his poor demeanour in Asia Cup!

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) October 10, 2018

Every member of Australia's middle-order (Nos. 3-6) has made a duck in this Test #PAKvAUS

— Louis Cameron (@LouisDBCameron) October 10, 2018

Champion! pic.twitter.com/kWGLAbfu1P

— Abdul Ghaffar (@GhaffarDawnNews) October 10, 2018

Usman Khawaja with 50s in both innings. The last Australian opener to do it in Asia was Shane Watson in Mohali in 2010. #PakvAus

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 10, 2018

Khawaja had a number of good knocks against us, and now standing on back to back half centuries. Showing that he can bat away from home #PAKvAUS

— Sipo (@Johnnie10874278) October 10, 2018

The biggest surprise of this Test match has been that Yasir Shah has Bowles 43 overs and hasn't got a single wicket yet. The first innings was the first occurrence in UAE, he will try to avoid the same in the second innings. #PAKvAUS #PAKvsAUS

— Giri Subramanian (@giri26) October 10, 2018

Pakistani fielders got a master degree in dropping catches… #butteryfingers #PAKvAUS #Dubai #Cricket

— Rahane Hater Ko Bhagao (@rahaneswarrior) October 10, 2018

Good batting by Khawaja and Head to take Australia to stumps with just 3 wickets down. Mohammad Abbas once again was the stand out bowler for The hosts. Australia Will come back tomorrow and will try to bat as long as they can. #PAKvAUS #PAKvsAUS

— Giri Subramanian (@giri26) October 10, 2018

All 10 wickets taken by Sialkotis. Century by a Sialkoti as well. Has to be biggest ever contribution by Sialkot district in a Test match. #PakvAus

— SaAd GhuMman (@saad_ghumman) October 10, 2018

Credit where its due: Khawaja's been the best of them this Test. And Head could've panicked coming in the middle of a collapse, on a pair, taking 13 balls to get off the mark – getting through it is a little win for him #PAKvAUS

— Marcus Taylor (@Marcus_Taylor16) October 10, 2018

Turns out this pitch has something for both bastmen and bowlers + spin has not been unplayable until now. #Dubai #Road #PAKvAUS

— Tuaha Sohail (@TuahaSohail) October 10, 2018

one more day to bat, Australia. #PakvAus

— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) October 10, 2018

Day 5 could be interesting. #PAKvAUS

— Kashif 🇵🇰 (@Apassionateguy) October 10, 2018

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