Scores Upcoming Results
26-Dec-2016 05:26:00 GMT
Australia v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Melbourne, day 1

Bird give Australia the edge against Pakistan

Melbourne: Pakistan were under pressure when play finished early on the first day of the second Test against Australia at the MCG on Monday.

When play was halted due to rain, the visitors were four for 142 after electing to bat, with opener Azhar Ali on 66 and Asad Shafiq on four.

After winning the toss and electing to bat the visitors made a cautious start, but only Ali had been able to build an innings of substance.

Bird struck twice in quick succession to give the home team the ascendancy, removing experienced duo Younis Khan (21) and Misbah-ul-Haq (11).

Younis, who had been given out LBW on three but successfully appealed the decision, just looked to be finding touch when Bird (2-53) snuck a ball between his bat and pad to bowl him.

Misbah got an inside edge onto his pad and short leg Nic Maddinson dived forward to take a fine catch.

Earlier Babar Azam (23) edged the last ball of the first session from Josh Hazlewood (1-15) to Australian captain Steven Smith in slips.

Smith, who had some rare catching errors in the first Test, went low to his right and just managed to cling onto the sharp chance.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat on a dry pitch, and their openers were determined to see off any early movement from the Australian fast bowlers.

Australia kept the same 11 which won the first Test of the three-match series in Brisbane by 39 runs, keeping faith in struggling rookie batsman Maddinson.

Pakistan made one change, replacing seamer Rahat Ali with Sohail Khan.

Brief scores
Pakistan -
4 for 142 (Azhar 66*)


Scores Upcoming Results
Related links

Top