Michael Hussey held his end with an unbeaten 39 as he ensured that Australia squeezed every run possible after Asif initiated a dramatic collapse. It started with the last ball before the tea interval as he trapped Michael Clarke lbw with a fuller delivery to break the highest partnership of the Australian innings. Clarke and Simon Katich added 120 runs for the third wicket as Australia dominated the second session after only 13 overs were possible in the first.
Post-tea, Asif then dismissed Katich for a well-made 80 and three balls later, bowled Marcus North with a superb in-swinger.
With three wickets within the space of two overs, Australia were reduced to 174 for five. Hussey started the repair work with Tim Paine and added 32 runs for the sixth wicket before Gul brought an end to the wicket-keeper’s painstaking innings.
Danish Kaneria then got into the act with a couple of quick wickets as he dismissed Steven Smith and Mitchell Johnson to peg back the Australians. While wickets continued to fall around him, Hussey continued to attack. The left-hander hit a six and five fours in his 75-ball knock as he tried to steer Australia out of trouble. Aamer returned to take the ninth wicket as Pakistan looked eager to come out to bat on the same day.
Earlier, it was Katich and Clarke who bothered the Pakistan attack as they put on 120 runs after Australia were in a bit of trouble at 51 for two.
Aamer struck first as he bowled opening batsman Shane Watson for four. He then had Australian captain Ricky Ponting caught by an alert Umar Amin at short-leg as he struck after lunch.
But Katich and Clarke denied anymore breakthroughs for Pakistan in the second session before Asif became the destroyer-in-chief. For Pakistan, it was a day to remember as they look to beat Australia for the first time in 15 years.
Four players made their debut in this match, two from each side. Australia handed out Test caps to Steven Smith and Tim Paine while Umar Amin and Azhar Ali made their debuts for Pakistan.
As Australia gear up to come out to bowl today, Pakistan will look upto their young guns to take a first-innings lead. Umar Akmal, who has been tipped by many to be the main key in the inexperienced middle-order, will be Pakistan’s main man.
Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who bowled just three overs today, will have a point to prove as well after playing Test cricket after a huge gap.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 14th, 2010.
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