Cummins proves golden arm again with key breakthrough
Scott Bailey |
Pat Cummins’ golden summer has continued, with Australia’s captain bringing himself on to claim another key breakthrough and leave Pakistan 6-199 at the SCG.
With Mohammad Rizwan motoring towards a century and threatening to put the tourists back in the game, Cummins brought himself on just before tea on day one.
From the second ball of his spell Cummins sent down a well-directed bouncer, earning Rizwan’s top edge and having him well caught by Josh Hazlewood at fine leg for 88.
The wicket ended a 94-run sixth-wicket partnership between Rizwan and Agha Salman (36 not out) from 101 balls.
Australia’s captain has had a knack of bringing himself on at the right times in recent months, doing so in the fourth innings at the MCG last week.
His 3-40 in the first two sessions on Wednesday took his return for the series to 15 wickets at 11.73, after leading Australia to World Cup success less than two months ago.
Rizwan’s innings had provided the one highlight for the tourists on day one.
After Pakistan lost both openers for ducks in the opening two overs and at one stage slumped to 4-47, Rizwan put some fight into the tourists’ innings.
The wicketkeeper batted with great intent at No.6, playing the shot of the day when he scoop-pulled Hazlewood for six over fine leg in the first session.
He also slog-swept Nathan Lyon for another six after lunch, and hit Cummins through the legside for two boundaries when the quick bowled too full.
The right-hander brought up his half-century off 74 balls when he hooked Hazlewood for four, and his last 48 runs came from 35 deliveries.
Otherwise, it has been a tough day for Pakistan.
Down 0-2 in the Benaud-Qadir Trophy and without rested quick Shaheen Afridi, the series finale could not have begun any worse for Pakistan.
Abdullah Shafique’s dismissal from the second ball summed up a dismal tour for the 24-year-old, wafting at a ball well outside off stump from Mitchell Starc.
The edge was a replica of his edge in the second innings at the MCG, and comes after he dropped three chances in the slips this series.
Saim Ayub then showed the inexperience of a 21-year-old with 14 first-class games to his name.
With Hazlewood angling his second delivery across the left-hander, Ayub felt for the ball and only succeeded in edging it through to a diving Alex Carey.
Babar Azam looked in good touch for his 26, playing a number of flourishing cover drives before being trapped lbw by Cummins.
The Aussie captain also had Saud Shakeel caught behind for five before lunch, when he took the left-hander’s outside edge to a ball wide enough to comfortably leave.
And while Pakistan captain Shan Masood offered some resistance with 35, he was caught in the slips off Mitch Marsh after earlier being saved by a no-ball from the allrounder.
David Warner had earlier entered the SCG alongside his three children in his farewell match.
His kids stood beside him for the national anthem, for his 112th and final Test.
The 37-year-old is wearing a team kit baggy green for the match, after his were lost during the team’s relocation from Melbourne to Sydney.
AAP
