Australia took Abbas lightly, says Sarfraz after Pakistan's emphatic victory

Abu Dhabi - The victory margin is Pakistan's biggest ever in terms of runs, eclipsing 356 against Australia at the same venue in 2014

Pakistan celebrated a long-awaited Test series win in the UAE with a thumping 373-run victory over Australia at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
The victory margin is Pakistan's biggest ever in terms of runs, eclipsing 356 against Australia at the same venue in 2014.
And securing the Jubilee Insurance Brighto Cup with a day to spare in the second Test is an incredible achievement for a team that were reduced to 5/57 at one stage in the first innings.
Mohammad Abbas spewed venom at the Australian top-order with his unerring accuracy, taking five for 62.
Abbas finished with 10-wicket match haul. And his 17 from the series - both records for a pace bowler in a Test series in the UAE - earned him the player of the match and the player of the series awards.
In the post-match press conference, Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed credited his bowlers, especially Abbas, as the main factor for the series victory.
"Australia took Mohammad Abbas lightly. The pitch didn't suit fast bowlers but he did a great job." He noted his batsmen, especially debutant Fakhar Zaman, showed great character when the team were struggling at 57/5 in first innings.
"We were mentally stronger than Australia. We didn't give up. Each player played his part. All debutants under my captaincy have done well. But we have to iron out flaws in batting. We have to improve spin department and also prepare a fast bowler apart from Abbas," he said.
Sarfraz said the series victory was a much-needed boost ahead of New Zealand series.
"Our morale is high now. We haven't won for a while. Hopefully we will continue the momentum." Meanwhile, Paine said it was 'disappointing' not to repeat the heroics of the drawn Dubai Test.
"We've got a lot of work to do with our batting, and that's not just this team, it's throughout the country. We know as a batting group and as a team we're certainly a long way off the finished product," he said. "At the moment there's a really big gap between our best and our worst."
Australia suffered early setback as Usman Khawaja was declared unfit due to his knee injury.
For Pakistan,Sarfraz didn't come out on the fourth day after being stuck on the helmet by a Peter Siddle delivery in the team's second innings. Substitute Mohammad Rizwan kept wickets and Asad Shafiq led the side.
Resuming at the overnight score of 47/1, Aaron Finch and Travis Head started the 538-run chase on positive note by banging boundaries. The duo scored 24 runs in first six overs until Abbas' three-over burst.
In his fourth over of the day, Abbas got Head (36) caught behind to halt a 61-run stand. New batsman Mitchell Marsh started off by punching Abbas for a boundary but the bowler returned in his fifth over to trap him LBW.
In his sixth over, Abbas snared Finch with a sharp delivery and knocked over Tim Panie for a three-ball duck.
Abbas nine-over opening spell of four wickets for 38 runs saw Australia slip from 71/2 to 78/5.
Marnus Labuschagne (43) and Mitchell Starc then launched a counter attack with a flurry of boundaries. But Yasir hit back with biting leg spin to claim Starc (28).
The wicket ended a 67-stand with Australia at 145 for six.
Yasir got Peter Siddle with a drifter. After lunch, Abbas ended Labuschagne's defiant stay with a short ball and Yasir got Jon Holland as the Aussies were all out for 164 in 49.4 overs.
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com