Pakistan were true to their reputation of being unpredictable as they decided against asking Australia to follow on, despite having a 309-run first innings lead at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
This would have been Australia’s first follow-on since 1988, while Pakistan would have also ended a barren run of not having enforced a follow-on in 12 years.
Pakistan ended the day on 61-2, with a commanding lead of 370 after losing both openers early to Mitchel Johnson as they tried to accelerate. Younus Khan, out in the middle on 16, has the chance to become the first player in Test history to score hundreds in both innings of consecutive Tests. Younus is out in the middle with Azhar Ali, unbeaten on 21, with whom he shared a record 236-run third-wicket stand in the first innings.
Australia struggle with the bat
Australia had resumed the day on 22-1 but suffered an early setback when the dangerous David Warner was dismissed on 19. Australia were in trouble at 34-2 when Glenn Maxwell arrived at the crease but that did not stop him from scoring freely, making 37 off just 27 balls before he was undone by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar on the 28th; stumped after charging down the track, trying to whip the ball through midwicket.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon hung on at the other end and was joined by skipper Michael Clarke, who showed positive intent right from the word go, using his feet well against the spinners.
Lyon’s 85-ball stubborn stay, which fetched him 15 runs, was ended by Rahat Ali as he was cleaned up through the gate and Steve Smith was dismissed just seven balls later on naught by Babar, leaving Australia reeling at 100-5.
Clarke and Mitchell Marsh started the rebuilding process and played with command, but the 64-run stand was broken as Imran Khan dismissed Clarke on 47 by hitting the timber with a reverse-swinging delivery.
Imran later revealed that there was a definite ploy behind Clarke’s dismissal. “I set up Clarke by bowling some out-swingers, and then got one to come back in,” he said. “I’m very pleased to have dismissed a world-class batsman in such a way.”
Brad Haddin and Mitchell Johnson were then dismissed in quick succession, on 10 and naught respectively, by Yasir Shah leaving Australia at 199-8.
However, Marsh continued scoring from one end while Peter Siddle made 28 along with him to accumulate 62 runs for the ninth wicket. But Marsh failed to score a deserving maiden ton as he chipped a full toss from Imran to mid-on, getting out on unlucky 87 off 116 deliveries, while Siddle fell to Muhammad Hafeez two balls later.
“I was extremely disappointed with the way I got out,” Marsh said after the match.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will be especially pleased with the bowling as all frontline bowlers were among the wickets; Imran claiming three, while Babar, Yasir and Rahat claiming two each.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2014.
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