Taken for a spin: Spinners, Younus make it advantage Pakistan

Home side takes first Test by 221 runs

DUBAI: Spinners Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah picked up 14 wickets between them to bowl Pakistan to an impressive 221-run victory over Australia on day five of the first Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan’s bowling attack was thought to be one of its weakest in history but stunned the Australians despite the quartet having only 10 Test matches between themselves.

The win is Pakistan’s first Test triumph against Australia in four years and perhaps the first in which they dominated almost throughout the Test since they did so in 1988 in Karachi.

“I’ll rate this the second biggest win of my career as captain, after the 3-0 whitewash of England,” captain Misbahul Haq said after winning the match. “The collective effort that the team put in enabled us to achieve this victory despite being down and out after the ODI series. When you have a young team, they sometimes lack consistency as it happened in Sri Lanka but things clicked in this match for us.”

Australia started day five on 59-4 and it took Pakistan 17.3 overs to get the first breakthrough of the day when Imran bowled a superb yorker to dismiss opener Chris Rodgers, who had made a determined 43 off 131 balls.

The second breakthrough came 18 deliveries later when Zulfiqar removed Mitchell Marsh on three as Azhar Ali took a good catch at silly mid-off, leaving Australia reeling on 101-6. The visitors’ vows increased when Brad Haddin was clean bowled on naught by a ripper of a delivery from Zulfiqar in the 48^th over.

Smith and Mitchell Johnson then dug in and batted together for 28.5 overs, which left Pakistan nervous and as many as four chances were missed by Sarfaraz Ahmed, Misbah, Ahmed Shehzad and Yasir Shah.

However, Smith’s 175-ball defiance, which fetched him 75 runs, came to an end when Asad Shafiq took an incredibly sharp catch at short-leg, which was especially praised by Misbah too in his words.

Peter Siddle walked out with Australian hopes on his shoulders to assist Johnson, but it was the latter who was dismissed first after a quick stumping from Sarfaraz off Yasir. Johnson was back in the hut after making 61 and Siddle soon followed when Azhar caught him off Zulfiqar as Australia were dismissed for 216 in 91.1 overs. Zulfiqar picked up his maiden five-wicket haul, while Yasir claimed four wickets.

Misbah, who looked his most attacking as captain as he has in his career, played down Ajmal’s absence.

“It’s not about individual names, but it’s the about collective performance which wins you matches,” he said. “Zulfiqar and Yasir bowled well in both innings, while Sarfaraz, Asad, Azhar and Shehzad batted well.”

Misbah also reserved special praise for Younus Khan.

“Younus was outstanding in this match, scoring unbelievable centuries in both innings and allowing the youngsters to play around him,” he said. “He is a true professional, a role model for the youngsters and a legend both on and off the field.”

Meanwhile, Australian skipper Michael Clarke admitted that Australia were just not good enough but felt that the fight on the final day has given them impetus going into second Test. Like his opposite number, Clarke also has words of praise for Younus. “Younus showed us how to bat against spin and to stay out in the middle to build an innings in these conditions,” he said. “We didn’t bat well and most of us did not survive for 25 balls which was a factor for the downfall.”

I thank Shaharyar for his support: Misbah

Misbah, who was under pressure in the ODI series after failing to fire with the bat and opting to sit out in the dead-rubber one-dayer, has thanked Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Shaharyar Khan and the team management for backing him in bad times.

“I’m really thankful to the PCB chief who supported me when I was under pressure and wasn’t performing well,” said Misbah.

“It was his backing which boosted my morale while our coaches and team management also stood by me.”

Meanwhile, Shaharyar ‘felicitated’ Misbah and the entire team for their outstanding show against Australia.

“This has been a magnificent victory under your [Misbah] mature leadership.  My felicitations especially to Younus Khan; centuries from Sarfaraz and Shehzad, runs from Asad Shafiq and Misbah’s coming back to form also contributed to the victory,” Shaharyar stated according to the PCB media release.

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