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26-Oct-2014 12:07:00 GMT
Pakistan v Australia, 1st Test, Dubai

Babar, Shah Give Pakistan 221-run Win

Dubai: Zulfiqar Babar picked up 5-74 and Yasir Shah finished with figures of 4-50 in the second innings as Pakistan won the first Test by 221 runs.

Steve Smith and Mitchell Johnson post half-centuries but Australia go down in the first Test.

Pakistan have won the first Test by 221 runs in Dubai but it did not come without a dogged, gutsy fight from Australia.

There was controversy and drama, too, right to the very end. A close catch from Peter Siddle was celebrated and Pakistan’s players ripped stumps out of the ground.

Umpire Marais Erasmus appeared to signal out, then called for the third umpire as the Pakistanis sheepishly replaced the souvenired wickets. The television replays confirmed the edge from Siddle, giving Zulfiqar Babar his fifth wicket, and the stumps were uprooted again.

Before that, Mitchell Johnson was given out by the third umpire on a marginal stumping decision as the end came shortly after tea.

Johnson had pushed forward with a big stride and played safely inside the line. Sarfraz Ahmed quickly had the bails off, convinced he had his man. After a lengthy review process by the third umpire, Nigel Llong was convinced there was no doubt and Johnson was on his way.

That he had played a gutsy, determined 127-ball innings for 61 runs showed that even on the fifth day, this Dubai pitch did not have the demons many predicted.

The rearguard action was brave and valiant but ultimately in vain. Steve Smith and Johnson batted for 29 overs in partnership, adding 65 runs. They each recorded a half-century, which only served to highlight that this was still a surface that runs could be scored on with patience and application.

Smith had looked to be building a memorable innings as Australia's saviour. He played the spin with aplomb, using good footwork and wonderful technique to reach his seventh Test half-century.

However, when Smith fell, bunting the leg-spin of Yasir Shah to short-leg on 55, the last recognised batsmen fell for Australia.

But Johnson has a Test century to his name, and has the heart for a fight. So, too, does Peter Siddle, who took Australia to tea at 8-196.

The tourists had flirted with danger after lunch. Smith danced down the wicket on 44 and smashed a drive to Misbah-ul-Haq at short cover. The ball was travelling at considerable pace and it would have been a fantastic catch, but the Pakistan skipper did get a hand to it low to his right.

Johnson skied a slog sweep to deep midwicket and Ahmed Shezhad, coming forward, put down a catch that should have been comfortable.

Johnson repeated the stroke, sending this one higher. Yasir, at backwards square leg, backpeddled, misjudged, and turfed the catch for another Australian reprieve.

Australia lost 4-5 in 23 balls on the fourth afternoon, and another 3-13 in seven overs before lunch.

The batsmen had kept Pakistan at bay for 73 minutes on the final morning. Chris Rogers and Smith had negotiated 17 overs before Imran Khan went around the wicket.

A full delivery speared in and showed a hint of reverse swing. Rogers looked to turn it to the leg side but was bowled through the gate, the ball crashing through his defences to push back the middle stump.

The opener's 131-ball vigil for 43 runs over a little short of three hours was ended, bringing debutant allrounder Mitchell Marsh to the crease.

With his father Geoff, the former Australian opener watching on, Marsh looked to push forward and smother the left-arm orthodox spin of Zulfiqar Babar.

Brief scores
Pakistan -
454 (Sarfraz 109, Younis 106, Asad Shafiq 89, Johnson 3-39) and 286/2 (Shehzad 131, Younis 103*)
Australia - 303 (Warner 133, Yasir Shah 3-66) and 216 (Johnson 61, Smith 55, Babar 5-74, Shah 4-50)
Status - Pakistan won by 221 runs
MOM - Younis Khan (Pakistan)


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