Twitter Reactions: Australia take lead; Pakistan were so close yet so far

When Pakistan finished day 3 on 382 for 8 they had Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah at the crease. Despite the fact that Shafiq was batting on 100 very few gave Pakistan a chance to chase down 108 runs on the last day. The Aussie pacers were expected to blow off the last two wickets early on and close the game. But after a dismal first innings show where they just managed 142 runs, Pakistan made an exemplary comeback in their next knock to fight with every ounce of their sweat and blood.

The Shafiq-Yasir partnership gave Australia a real scare. They got together on 378 and took the team to a position where the target was under 50 runs. The Aussies had started to get desperate now, their A plans for the morning didn’t work; the ball kissed the fingers of the fielders but went to the fence, the Yorkers were off target and the bouncers weren’t troubling the pair.

But as the target came closer the pressure was on Pakistan, from a point where they weren’t really expected to win, with each run they could feel they were getting there and thus the expectation of a victory rose. Mitchell Starc finally got a bouncer right, Shafiq couldn’t decide whether to duck or to play and David Warner was there to grab it. Once he was gone it was just a formality.

Yasir Shah now the senior partner tried to shield Rahat Ali against Starc and while attempting a single on the last ball of the 145th over was run out via a direct hit by Australian skipper Steve Smith. What an end to a thrilling Test match played with the pink ball. The game could be termed one of the best we have seen in recent times and Pakistan though ended on the losing side deserve applause for their determined effort that almost defied history.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Australia’s win:

Historic. A brilliant fighting effort from @TheRealPCB. I am so proud that the lads went down fighting. #TheTestMatchOfTheYear. #AUSvPAK

— Inzamam-ul-Haq (@InziTheLegend) December 19, 2016

Pakistan, who lost nine wickets in the last session v NZ two weeks ago, fall 39 short chasing 490. What a mad, beautiful team. #AusvPak

— Freddie Wilde (@fwildecricket) December 19, 2016

This match between #AUSvPAK is the first ever pink ball test match to go down the wire and have had all 3 results possible.

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) December 19, 2016

I wish that had missed and gone for forty overthrows. #AUSvPAK

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) December 19, 2016

What a fight back by Asad Shafiq!! Much deserved Century that too on Aussie soil!! Big one for Pakistan!! #Cricket #AusvPak

— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) December 18, 2016

Wow just seen the Aus vs Pakistan scorecard!! Come on Pakistan!! What an unbelievable win that will be!! ??#AUSvPAK

— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) December 18, 2016

Asad Shafiq becomes the 2nd Pak batsman after Ijaz Ahmed to score a century in Australia in the 4th innings of a Test. #AUSvPAK

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) December 18, 2016

Pakistan winning this will piss off Aussies. ?

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 19, 2016

Asad Shafiq has a hundred at Oval, one at Cape Town & now in Brisbane. For a player from the subcontinent that's exceptional!#AUSvPAK

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 19, 2016

I wait for the day when Broad will walk up to Vijay and whisper, "hey, it's okay, I did that too, it's fun ain't it?"#IndvEng #IndvsEng https://t.co/bloNQ7zS4y

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) December 19, 2016

Asad Shafiq Man of the Match! Played one of the best knocks I have ever seen under such circumstances. #AUSvPAK

— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) December 19, 2016

Came in a losing cause but Asad has played a career-defining innings…Well played, Pakistan. You made Test cricket proud with that effort!

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 19, 2016

Highest 4th inngs Totals

654/5 ENG v SA, 1939
451 NZ v ENG, 2002
450/7 SA v IND, 2013
445 IND v AUS, 1978
441/8* PAK v AUS, TODAY#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/qIkSGwEUui

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) December 19, 2016

Aust selectors also mulling return of an all-rounder for Boxing Day Test after big workload for quicks at Gabba #AUSvPAK

— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) December 19, 2016

The winning moment! #AUSvPAK

?: @ryanpierse pic.twitter.com/sljEwUkxFG

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 19, 2016

Whatever the outcome of Brisbane Test, this has been a monumental fightback by Pak. Chasing 490, heck! Shafiq playing innings of his life

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 19, 2016

https://twitter.com/umairjav/status/810690584272834560

Asad Shafiq becomes first batsman in Test history to score 9 hundreds batting at number six, going past Garry Sobers who had eight. #AusvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 18, 2016

First time in the Test history that there is a 50 runs partnership for 7th, 8th and 9th wicket in a chase. #AusvPak

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 19, 2016