Cummins takes crucial wicket of Pakistan captain at MCG
Oliver Caffrey |
Pat Cummins has stepped up yet again to halt Pakistan’s brave chase and keep Australia in control in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Cummins (2-28) claimed the crucial wicket of his opposing captain, Shan Masood (60), just when the Pakistan skipper and his predecessor were giving the tourists hope.
Pakistan headed to tea on day four at 3-129, needing another 188 runs to secure an improbable first Test win in Australia since 1995.
Masood, who arrived in Australia intent on playing an attacking brand of cricket, took on the bowlers to become the first visiting batter to score two 50s in the same MCG Test since Virat Kohli for India in 2014.
But after changing the course of Pakistan’s first innings to finish with his 10th five-wicket haul in Tests, Cummins proved his value again by getting Masood to edge to Steve Smith in the slips.
At the other end, Pakistan star Babar Azam has rediscovered form and blasted his way to 35 not out to remain at the crease with Saud Shakeel (10no).
Cummins grabbed the only other wicket of the second session, trapping opener Imam-ul-Haq (12) lbw.
Pakistan, who have lost 15 successive Tests in Australia, will need to create history to avoid going down 2-0 in the Benaud-Qadir series.
They were the last team to score more than 300 in the fourth innings of a MCG Test, in a losing cause back in 1990.
The highest successful fourth-innings chase at the MCG was England’s 7-332 in 1928.
Pakistan’s highest successful Test chase against Australia was back in 1994 when they made 9-315 during a classic in Karachi.
Australia were out for 262 in their second innings after losing 4-75 during the morning.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey (53) helped push Australia’s lead over the crucial 300-mark with his highest score since the first Test of the Ashes in June.
Star Pakistan quick Shaheen Afridi (4-76) made a welcome return to form with his best figures of the series, while fellow left-armer Mir Hamza (4-32) proved a serious handful.
Cummins was dismissed by Pakistan pacer Aamir Jamal in peculiar fashion on Friday morning.
Given out by the on-field umpire, Australia’s captain decided to review the caught-behind decision.
After nothing showed up on hotspot, the original decision eventually stood due to a spike on snicko.
“…What we’re looking for is a spike as the ball goes past the bat or up to one frame past the bat which allows that distance between the noise and the stump microphone,” former international umpire Simon Taufel told the Seven Network.
Carey’s crucial cameo takes pressure off the left-hander, who has been down on form with the bat and was dropped during Australia’s recent ODI World Cup campaign.
Carey followed up on Mitch Marsh’s good work on Thursday when the allrounder smashed a sparkling 96.
Marsh joined Steve Smith (50) at the crease when Australia were reeling at 4-16, but the pair put on a potentially matchwinning 153-run stand.
The 32-year-old was given a life when Australia were 4-46 when he was dropped by Shafique in the slips cordon.
Shafique, who also dropped a simple chance on day one, was taken out of first slip on Friday and replaced by Azam.
The former Pakistan captain hung onto a brilliant catch to dismiss Mitchell Starc and help bring Australia’s innings to an end.
AAP
