Australia claw back ground in second Test

Australia took two wickets in the 17 overs possible before lunch on the second day of the second and final Test at Headingley here, but Pakistan still extended their lead to 130.

By (AFP)

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Published: Thu 22 Jul 2010, 6:09 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 2:33 AM

Pakistan were 218 for five at lunch after they’d bowled Australia out for just 88 on Wednesday.

Shoaib Malik was 17 not out and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal 10 not out.

But Pakistan should have lost their sixth wicket on 216 when Kamran Akmal, on 10, drove wildly against Doug Bollinger only for Michael Hussey at gully to drop the seemingly straightforward chance off the left-arm quick.

Malik, the only change to the Pakistan side that lost the series opener by 150 runs at Lord’s last week after another former captain Shahid Afridi quit the five-day game after that defeat, was appearing in his first Test since facing Australia at Hobart in January.

Pakistan, after rain delayed the scheduled start by 45 minutes, resumed on their overnight score of 148 for three

Australia’s batsmen had been unable to cope with the swinging ball, with seamers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif sharing six wickets between them.

However, Australia have won their last 13 Tests against Pakistan and in January won by 36 runs at Sydney despite a first innings deficit of 206.

In this match, Pakistan had lost captain and in-form batsman Salman Butt for 45, with the inexperienced duo of Umar Amin one not out and Umar Akmal eight not out.

An eventful first over demonstrated the pros and cons of Umar Akmal’s dashing approach.

He square cut Mitchell Johnson’s fourth ball to the point boundary in majestic fashion but, two balls later, skied the left-arm quick to mid-off.

Fortunately for the batsman, umpire Ian Gould had called no-ball.

But Johnson did not have long to wait for Umar Akmal’s wicket.

Pitching the ball up, in his third over, Johnson had Umar Akmal caught behind by Paine for 21 after angling the ball across the right-hander.

Umar Akmal had scored at better than a run-a-ball but Pakistan were now 171 for four.

Pakistan were unfortunate a wet outfield meant they did not get full value for their attacking strokes but Malik’s straight-driven three off Johnson did give them a hundred lead.

But a ball after Amin cover-drove Ben Hilfenhaus for a textbook four, the left-hander was out for 25 in bizarre fashion.

Amin, ducking a short delivery from Hilfenhaus, left his bat up in the air and the ball took the back of the blade before lobbing gently to Marcus North at square leg.

This series is being played in England because of security concerns in Pakistan where an armed attack on Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore in March last year led to the suspension of international cricket in the country.


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