Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Summary
A highly convincing victory for Australia, which was set on its course when Pakistan were held to a mere 240 in their first innings. That total was put into context by Australia’s response, a mammoth 580 that effectively rendered this match over inside three days. David Warner cashed in on his homecoming, scoring a first Test century for almost two years and going some way to exorcising the demons of his Ashes failure. But the talking point of this first Test was not Warner, nor Australia’s 13th straight Gabba Test win over Pakistan and not even the no-ball controversy surrounding Mohammad Rizwan’s dismissal on Thursday that will likely grow legs in the coming days. The story of this match was Marnus Labuschagne, whose maiden Test century answered any lingering questions about the composition of Australia’s top order. His 185 was the knock of a man who will be scoring runs for his country long into the future. Pakistan battled gamely to almost make Australia bat again for victory - in Babar Azam and Rizwan there is plenty for Australia to work on - so they will at least head to Adelaide with optimism their best might be good enough. But, as these four days at the Gabba illustrated, a session or two here and there simply won’t do. Pakistan will need to be at the top of their game from start to finish if they are to level this two-match series. Thanks for your company. Let’s do it all again in Adelaide.
After guiding Australia to their 13th consecutive Test victory over Pakistan at the Gabba, here’s what captain Tim Paine has to offer:
“To score 580, that’s exactly what you want out of your Test batters on a very good wicket. It’s fantastic to see Davey (Warner) back, he obviously had his struggles in England. We knew that when Davey got back to Australia, he’s a different proposition. He played superbly. Everyone in the team was really happy for Marnus (Labuschagne). This was his first Test hundred. He works as hard as anyone, he loves the game of cricket and gives us some real energy. His Ashes in tough conditions was awesome and he looks like he’s getting better and better.”
On Australia’s bowling attack:
“I thought they were pretty good. We hold them to a really high standard, so we would have liked to clean up a little bit quicker today but the two guys in the middle batted really well. We know we’ve got an excellent all-round attack, they’ve taken 20 wickets which they continually do and we’re very lucky to have them.”
Josh Hazlewood took six wickets for the match, including four wickets in the second dig. Here’s what he has to say:
“It’s always good fun coming back to the Gabba. Getting that extra bounce. I got a few rewards at the end there, and Mitchell Starc too, so all good.”
On Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan:
“They’re both really good players and scored quite a few runs. So we’ll take a look at them and try to figure them out.”
Pakistan 335 all out - Australia win by an innings and five runs!
Some pockets of resistance from Pakistan today - most notably a couple of great knocks from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan - but Australia wrap up a convincing win to take a 1-0 series lead.
Wicket! Imran Khan c Wade b Starc 5 (Pakistan 335 all out)
Imran goes out with all guns blazing, driving Starc for four before trying the same again but picking out Wade in the deep. Australia win by an innings and five runs.
Wicket! Shaheen Afridi c Cummins b Hazlewood 10 (Pakistan 331-9)
84th over: Pakistan 331-9 (Imran Khan 1, Naseem Shah 0) Shaheen keeps on swinging but the middle is hard to find and he gets nowhere near this pull shot, directing a leading edge to Cummins at extra cover. That’s four for Hazlewood now. Just one wicket to go.
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83rd over: Pakistan 331-8 (Shaheen Afridi 10, Imran Khan 1) Starc to Shaheen, with a short leg in place. The way Shaheen is swinging, Labuschagne will be grateful for the invention of helmets. And swing he does, past the close-in fielder for one to deep midwicket. Imran then sees Starc off, not with conviction but he does it all the same. Pakistan trail by 9 runs.
Wicket! Yasir Shah c Wade b Hazlewood 42 (Pakistan 324-8)
82nd over: Pakistan 330-8 (Shaheen Afridi 9, Imran Khan 1)
Yasir tries to work Hazlewood though midwicket but succeeds only in sending a leading edge to Wade at extra cover. The end is surely nigh, with the only question being can Pakistan make Australia bat again. Shaheen is certainly doing everything he can to ensure that happens, swinging very hard and sending Hazlewood flying over the slips for four.
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81st over: Pakistan 324-7 (Yasir Shah 42, Shaheen Afridi 4) The new ball is taken, not by Cummins but by Starc. Shaheen swings hard and gets off the mark with a boundary through midwicket. Four leg-byes, then four byes off a ball that gained an enormous amount of bounce, follow and Pakistan now trail by 16 runs.
Wicket! Mohammad Rizwan c Lyon b Hazlewood 95 (Pakistan 305-7)
80th over: Pakistan 312-7 (Yasir Shah 42, Shaheen Afridi 0) Hazlewood on for one to blow out the cobwebs before the new ball is due. And his first ball is a loosener but it still gets the wicket, Rizwan helping a wide one over backward point and into the hands of Lyon in the deep. No century for Rizwan but that was still a fine knock in just his second Test. His 95 is the highest score by a visiting keeper in Tests at the Gabba. Yasir lives dangerously later in the over, sending a leading edge over the slip cordon and it’s Paine, like Rizwan in Australia’s innings, who chases the ball and saves a boundary. Yasir then flat bats Hazlewood down the ground for four. An eventful over, you could say. New ball now due.
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79th over: Pakistan 305-6 (Rizwan 95, Yasir Shah 36) Gem of a ball from Cummins to beat Yasir with sheer pace and seam movement, which is no mean feat on this deck with a ball 78 overs old. Cummins’ next over will be with the new cherry. He’ll be nice and loose for that.
78th over: Pakistan 303-6 (Rizwan 94, Yasir Shah 35) Yasir leans back, plays nicer and late to send Lyon down to fine leg for two. Rizwan then muffs a paddle sweep, with Labuschagne claiming the catch, diving from short leg. The sift signal is out but the third umpire intervenes and rules that the ball did hit the ground. Not Out! After Rizwan’s no-ball misfortune in the first dig, he deserves this.
77th over: Pakistan 299-6 (Rizwan 91, Yasir Shah 34) Cummins into the attack now. Interesting Cummins will want two overs with the old ball. Usually one ball is enough. He might be thinking otherwise now after Yasir clips him behind square for four. An uppish jab to the on side then lands safely, just in front of mid on.
76th over: Pakistan 293-6 (Rizwan 90, Yasir Shah 29) Lyon beats Rizwan’s outside edge before the batsman picks up two wide of point and then moves into the 90s with a single.
75th over: Pakistan 289-6 (Rizwan 87, Yasir Shah 28) Labuschagne pitches the ball up, trying to draw the drive from Rizwan, and he does get a thick edge. But with just one slip and no gully in place, the threat is non-existent.
74th over: Pakistan 284-6 (Rizwan 83, Yasir Shah 27) Now Yasir gets in on the act, driving Lyon down the ground and carting him over midwicket for two more boundaries. While the ball is old and soft, why the heck not? At this rate, they’ll be in front when the new ball is due. Pakistan trail by 56 runs.
73rd over: Pakistan 276-6 (Rizwan 83, Yasir Shah 19) And we’re back for the final session of day four. Labuschagne to continue with his leggies. Think we’ll see Paine getting to over No.80 as quickly as he can. From Australia’s point of view, the new ball is the promised land. Rizwan gets a full toss but picks out the man in the deep and earns just the one. Last ball, however, he finds the gap at fine-leg and moves into the 80s with a boundary.
Cricket’s a funny game, we know that, and StickSports Fan can see the incumbent batsmen carrying on the good work for Pakistan:
Take it away, SSF: “Yasir Shah scored a fancy half-century in one of the practice matches, with enough technique and temperament which I was unaware he possessed with the willow in hand. Now that Babar is dismissed, one might be tempted to believe that Pakistan will wrap up their innings soon enough. But with Rizwan more than capable to occupy one end, Yasir needs to hold on at the other. Doing so might seem futile for an external viewer, but it isn’t - it will be a moral victory for the team, and a huge boost going into the second Test. So stick out there, guys, we know you can!”
If the rest of you need any proof that cricket is indeed a funny game, here you go.
Tea - Pakistan 268 for 6 in their second innings, trailing by 72 runs
A good session for Pakistan, no doubt about that. A total of 124 runs for the loss of one wicket is a good return by anyone’s standards. That wicket, however, belonged to century-maker Babar Azam, and Pakistan are all the more vulnerable now for his absence. That said, Mohammad Rizwan is batting quite beautifully and the visitors will be confident they can continue their war of resistance in the evening session. But the new ball is due in eight overs. How Pakistan handle that, and how Australia use it, will ultimately shape the destiny of this match.
72nd over: Pakistan 268-6 (Rizwan 77, Yasir Shah 17) Last over of the session. Lyon to bowl. Yasir attempts an extravagant sweep but plays so early that the ball actually hits the end of the bat, flush. You don’t see that too often. You do see tea, however, and that is the juncture of day four at which we have arrived.
71st over: Pakistan 268-6 (Rizwan 77, Yasir Shah 17) Labuschagne on now. His first ball, a rank long hop, is sent to the fence by Yasir and Rizwan helps himself to the same later in the over. Thirteen runs from the over. I know Labuschagne is a part-timer, but I counted four looseners there.
70th over: Pakistan 255-6 (Rizwan 72, Yasir Shah 9) Lyon back in the attack now but it’s Rizwan who roars, moving his feet and driving through extra cover for four. Great response from the spinner, who next ball gets one to turn out of a foot mark and takes the inside edge. No wicket but that’ll get the batsman thinking.
69th over: Pakistan 247-6 (Rizwan 66, Yasir Shah 7) Just the single off Hazlewood’s latest offering. Apologies I can’t give you more than that.
68th over: Pakistan 246-6 (Rizwan 65, Yasir Shah 7) Yasir takes one for the team, trying to defend a short one with an angled bat but instead wearing it in the abdomen. Starc then affords Rizwan a little too much width and is punched through the covers for two. A short one is then pulled comfortably for one more before Starc’s radar goes AWOL, and not even Paine can stop this one running away for four byes. Pakistan trail by 94 runs.
67th over: Pakistan 238-6 (Rizwan 62, Yasir Shah 6) Hazlewood on now for Cummins, who looked a bit off in that spell. Just a fraction. First ball, Yasir is trapped on his crease and the question of leg before is asked. But there looks to be an inside edge in play and the appeal is turned down. Yasir then gets a bit of width and drives square for four.
66th over: Pakistan 233-6 (Rizwan 62, Yasir Shah 1) Like an AFL player who kicks a goal and is immediately removed from play, Lyon grabs a wicket and is rewarded with a rest. Starc on now, around the wicket to new batsman Yasir, who gets off the mark with a single. The batsmen then go for a very cheeky single and Yasir is lucky to survive as Wade’s shy at the stumps narrowly misses with the batsman short of his ground.
65th over: Pakistan 230-6 (Rizwan 61, Yasir Shah 0) Cummins again from around the wicket to Rizwan, and again he’s very short. But Rizwan is equal to it, finishing the over with a boundary through backward point.
You might recall Abhijato Sensarma writing in yesterday saying Babar Azam stood between Australia and an innings victory. With, Babar now gone, Abhijato has filed again: “Just before the close of play yesterday, I sent in an email where I proposed two thoughts - Babar Azam was what stood between Australia and an innings victory; also, if there was any team in the world which would be able to make the opposition bat again after being in the position they were, it was Pakistan. You rightly responded by saying that I must possess a cricket romantic’s imagination. Alas, Pakistan are any cricket romantic’s sweetheart! The pitch has helped them, but there’s still been the need to show resolve, which these two have shown quite effectively. The occurrence of a fourth innings is surely an unlikely likelihood now ...”
OUT! A wonderful innings from Babar Azam comes to an end, and the 🐐 gets the breakthrough #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/F9FprKiO9b
— #7Cricket (@7Cricket) November 24, 2019
Wicket! Babar Azam c Paine b Lyon 104 (Pakistan 226-6)
64th over: Pakistan 226-6 (Rizwan 57) Babar’s excellent century comes to and end. Lyon draws the cut shot and either Babr misjudges it or there is a touch of extra bounce. Either way, the edge finds a home in Paine’s gloves and Australia have the breakthrough. That sixth-wicket stand was worth 132 and Pakistan trail by 114 runs.
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63rd over: Pakistan 224-5 (Babar Azam 103, Rizwan 56) Cummins continues with customary gusto and bluster, but there looks to be less in it for the quicks on this fourth-day deck. It’s definitely flattening out. He changes to around the wicket to Rizwan, who swoops on a mid-pitcher and collects two.
62nd over: Pakistan 221-5 (Babar Azam 102, Rizwan 54) Paine is chirping away behind the stumps. Something about one of the batsman not changing his gloves. Or something about wet gloves. Honestly, I’m not sure. But he almost had a reason to get genuinely excited on the last ball of Lyon’s over, with Rizwan cutting and missing. That was close to the edge.
61st over: Pakistan 220-5 (Babar Azam 101, Rizwan 54) Cummins persists with the short stuff, with short leg in place, but in most cases they’ve been too high to draw a shot. Now fuller in length, his line deserts him and Rizwan drives for two. A better short ball to end the over takes Rizwan’s interest, but he manages to keep the bat away.
What a way to bring it up! 💯
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 24, 2019
Bravo, Babar Azam! #AUSvPAK | https://t.co/oHjjQibN4b pic.twitter.com/hreTdxPBOl
Half century! Rizwan 52 from 86 balls
60th over: Pakistan 217-5 (Babar Azam 100, Rizwan 52) Lyon resumes after drinks. First ball, Rizwan goes the sweep shot and as laboured as it is, he still gets enough of it to cross the rope and register his maiden Test fifty. Well played. These two have now put on 123 together, the same number as Pakistan’s deficit - 123.
Gratitude and platitudes, Jonathan. And indeed to Mr Lemon before you. Love your work. Well this is better from Pakistan. Though their backs remain against the wall, there’s no reason Pakistan shouldn’t be scoring runs: fourth day on a pancake-good batting deck, shine well and truly off the ball, overhead conditions divine. And, particularly in that first session, perhaps Australia’s field settings might have been a tad more attacking. But when you see Pakistan playing well, as Babar Azam is doing so elegantly, it just makes you look at the flip side (and there’s been plenty of that in this match) and scratch your head. Anyway, let’s see if Pakistan can continue to show some fight and at least make Australia bat again. You know the drill, email me or tweet if you’d like to get involved. Let’s do this thing.
Ok, that’s drinks. When play resumes Scott Heinrich will be on the keys. Thanks for your company.
100 to Babar Azam!
59th over: Pakistan 213-5 (Babar Azam 100, Rizwan 48) Lyon’s brief and unsuccessful spell is ended by the return of Cummins. Babar is nonplussed, spanking an opening bouncer well in front of square for four. That takes him within one shot of a second Test century, and it arrives just three balls later with a classic cover drive! 25-years-old and just at that precious moment in his career when it all comes together at the highest level.
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58th over: Pakistan 205-5 (Babar Azam 92, Rizwan 48) That Rizwan v Starc battle just received another highlight. Short and fast from the bowler, aggressive from the batsman, throwing his hands at the ball and watching it fly high and safely to the third-man boundary. Starc responds with more pace just back of a length, forcing Rizwan first to defend smartly but he’s then flashing outside off and almost offering a chance to Paine.
57th over: Pakistan 201-5 (Babar Azam 92, Rizwan 44) Better from Lyon, finding his length from around the wicket to Babar; until he doesn’t. Four probing deliveries are undone by a fifth that’s too short, allowing Babar to pierce the offside field and collect a boundary.
56th over: Pakistan 197-5 (Babar Azam 88, Rizwan 44) Century partnership for the seventh wicket and both batsmen are looking set for handy scores. Rizwan clips Starc off his legs for three then Babar drills the big left-hander through the covers for three more. Starc responds with some extra pace and bounce but for all the oohs and ahs it elicits in the cordon it is not a wicket-taking delivery.
55th over: Pakistan 190-5 (Babar Azam 84, Rizwan 41) Pakistan are refusing to allow Lyon any chance to settle. Both batsmen are using their feet, both looking to score on either side of the wicket, and the outcome is Lyon losing control of his length and adjusting his line from over, to around, then back over the wicket. The highlight of the battle was a crunching four though the covers from Rizwan, pressing forward then rocking back, Ponting-like, before whipcracking the cut shot.
54th over: Pakistan 185-5 (Babar Azam 83, Rizwan 37) Double change for Australia with Starc coming on for his first spell since lunch. It doesn’t change Pakistan’s mindset though with Babar and Rizwan both finding gaps to run singles. The latter then almost comes a cropper midway through the over when he throws his hands at a short and wide delivery that he fails to get on top of, breathing a sigh of relief when it lands just short of the diving point fielder. Rizwan escapes again when he misses a pull shot that skims agonisingly close to his underedge. Starc v Rizwan; one to keep an eye on as this session progresses.
53rd over: Pakistan 183-5 (Babar Azam 82, Rizwan 36) A good time to introduce spin into the afternoon session but Lyon doesn’t settle quickly and both batsmen find singles to keep the scoreboard moving.
52nd over: Pakistan 180-5 (Babar Azam 81, Rizwan 34) Singles apiece take this partnership into the 80s but that’s only the prelude for a Babar slap through the covers that makes the kind of precise sound you imagine might herald the arrival of a unicorn. Glorious timing. It’s just starting to get frustrating for Australia. Hazlewood in particular is stomping around like a man forced to tally untruths in the UK general election campaign. He always seems to be a fielder short somewhere, and his skipper is getting an earful.
51st over: Pakistan 173-5 (Babar Azam 76, Rizwan 32) The first maiden since lunch. Line and length from Cummins; watchful from Babar.
50th over: Pakistan 173-5 (Babar Azam 76, Rizwan 32) Following that narrow escape Babar gets off strike, allowing Rizwan to maintain his brisk strike-rate since lunch, squirting a boundary behind square on the off-side then pushing with hard hands away from his body to squeeze another couple through gully.
Review unsuccessful (not out)
Oooh, that was very very close. The appeal looked very good until DRS showed the ball hitting the bails within the margin of error for umpire’s call. That could easily have bene given live but as soon as it goes to review the extra bounce of Australian pitches comes into effect.
Australia review...
Hazlewood hammers Babar in front with a beauty that nips back from outside off stump but the appeal is declined on-field.
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49th over: Pakistan 166-5 (Babar Azam 75, Rizwan 26) This is turning into a handy little counterattack from Pakistan since lunch. Babar exudes class with a drive en pointe through point for three before Rizwan hooks with fast hands for a boundary down to fine-leg. Singles are exchanged and then Cummins slings down a bouncer so short and loose it flies away for five wides.
48th over: Pakistan 152-5 (Babar Azam 71, Rizwan 21) Rizwan continues to keep the scorers busy, but it al feels a bit sketchy. His latest runs come off the top third of his blade after a length delivery from Hazlewood gets bit big on him, the ball scuttling down to third-man. Trigger warning for Pepe Reina: a beach ball has made its way onto the outfield.
47th over: Pakistan 150-5 (Babar Azam 71, Rizwan 19) Cummins shares duties with Hazlewood after lunch. His first delivery is a touch full which allows Rizwan to rotate strike, allowing Babar to cash in on a rare long-hop a few balls later. The Pakistan batsman thrashed one that was short and wide to the cover boundary like a man in complete control of his game.
46th over: Pakistan 145-5 (Babar Azam 67, Rizwan 18) Back underway after lunch with Hazlewood and he’s into his work from the off, getting one to nip back off a length and rap Rizwan in the vicinity of his personal pipe. It makes the right-hander a little skittish and he drives on the up a couple of deliveries later, skewing the ball without control towards the covers, a stroke for which he earns a single.
Meanwhile in the WBBL the Strikers required a super over to see off the Thunder. The win sees them move level on points with Heat at the top of the ladder. Sophie Devine was once again the star of the show.
Want some more live cricket to keep you sated during the lunch interval? How about New Zealand making England’s life a misery in the first Test at Bay Oval? Records are tumbling like a Simone Biles highlights package.
Hello everybody, and thanks Geoff. I’ll be around through the lunch break and the first hour or so of the afternoon session.
It’ll be fun watching Babar bat for a bit longer. We knew before the series he was going to be the key man for Pakistan and he’s shown why this morning at the Gabba.
Lunch – Pakistan 144 for 5, trail by 196 in the third innings
A couple more wickets fell in that session, and it looked like Pakistan might subside, but this has been a really good partnership between Babar and Rizwan. Resolute and skilled to see off the premier fast bowlers, and now they’ll have a chance to rest and rest. Shan Masood was good through the first hour too, sticking it out for a while, and Cummins and Hazlewood bowled beautifully.
Still Australia’s match to win today, but it’ll be interesting to see if this partnership can push on. Once it gets broken, there’s not much batting to come.
I’ll push off now, and Jonathan Howcroft will take over after lunch.
45th over: Pakistan 144-5 (Babar Azam 67, Rizwan 17) Labuschagne to Babar, who drives a run to cover, then Rizwan, who sweeps hard and airborne for a couple of runs to midwicket. Thinks about the third but Babar declines. You just wonder whether Rizwan might run out of patience and play a daft shot at some point. In the meantime, BJ Watling over in New Zealand has been batting for the duration of our lives and still isn’t finished. Rizwan goes back to circumspection with a couple of blocks and a single, and that over takes long enough that we have reached lunch.
44th over: Pakistan 140-5 (Babar Azam 66, Rizwan 14) Lyon twirls through another over, a couple of singles. He’ll probably get one more chance before the break with spin at the other end.
43rd over: Pakistan 138-5 (Babar Azam 65, Rizwan 13) Experiment time, as Marnus Labuschagne comes on to bowl his leg-breaks before the internal. Beats the outside edge early with a ball that zips through, but having gauged the bowling, Babar produces a lovely cover drive for four. Shorter goes Labuschagne, and longer goes Babar! Nearly six, pulled away and it bounces just inside the rope. Well, you can bowl your part-timer, says Babar, and I will feast. That was authoritative.
42nd over: Pakistan 130-5 (Babar Azam 57, Rizwan 13) A very subcontinent shot there, as Babar gets width from Lyon and squats to slap it away down the ground. The sort of shot that he and Kohli both love playing outside off stump against spin. Three runs for Babar this time, as lunch approaches.
Half century! Babar Azam 53 from 107 balls
41st over: Pakistan 127-5 (Babar Azam 54, Rizwan 13) Fifty for Babar! Lovely shot to bring it up. His first fifty in Australia, his 11th overall. He’d love to turn it into his second century. He made 99 against Australia last year in Abu Dhabi. Starc gives him a nice short length, and Babar with the angle slays the cut shot for four. He waves briefly to acknowledge the applause, then resumes to pull a single. Short again to Rizwan, and he carves away a couple of runs behind point. Short for a fourth time, and another boundary, this time for Rizwan. Pulled away with authority, and Starc’s over goes for 11.
40th over: Pakistan 116-5 (Babar Azam 49, Rizwan 7) Three singles from the Lyon over. Tim Paine gave a roasting to Joe Burns in that over, who threw in from the boundary. You can hear Paine very clearly on the ABC broadcast via the stump mics. “Horrible throw,” you heard Paine say, then call out to Burns with a degree of satire, “Great arm, Burnsy. Rocket arm.” Enjoying themselves out there.
39th over: Pakistan 113-5 (Babar Azam 47, Rizwan 6) Starc down leg side again, outside off again, back to leg stump. Gets away with the first one, Babar punches two runs from the second, then a single from the third. Babar continues to awaken from his long morning sleep.
38th over: Pakistan 110-5 (Babar Azam 44, Rizwan 6) Lyon to Rizwan, a maiden as the Pakistani keeper-batsman is happy to just drop the ball at his feet and have a good long look.
37th over: Pakistan 110-5 (Babar Azam 44, Rizwan 6) Brilliant from Wade. That should be a boundary for Rizwan as he drives, but Wade dives across and deflects it to mid-on where Cummins is. Keeps it to one run. Babar is able to find scoring chances from Starc more easily than Cummins or Hazlewood, reaching and guiding a ball through gully for a couple of runs.
36th over: Pakistan 107-5 (Babar Azam 42, Rizwan 5) Talk about looking more comfortable against spin. Babar gets a do-over against Lyon’s short ball. The first one he cuts straight to the field, the second one he cuts wider and through for four. A deep breath of relief for the batsman with that boundary. He’s survived the tough pace examination well.
35th over: Pakistan 103-5 (Babar Azam 38, Rizwan 5) Starc to Rizwan, two action players, should be a good contest. Width to the right-hander to start, angled across him from over the wicket, left alone. Pitches up, Rizwan drives through cover and will belt back for three. That’s his go, love this. Babar has to defend from back of a length, then defend a yorker. You have to be on your toes, because Starc will be on them otherwise. Then the bouncer for the full set, Babar swaying away, before taking a leg bye from the last ball.
34th over: Pakistan 99-5 (Babar Azam 38, Rizwan 2) Double change, with Lyon on for Hazlewood. Babar looks happier immediately, dropping back in his crease to make room to work two runs through square leg. Except his scoring rate to tick up.
33rd over: Pakistan 97-5 (Babar Azam 36, Rizwan 2) A bowling change, Mitchell Starc is on. Immediately there’s an uptick in deliveries on leg stump. But one of them nearly produces a wicket, Rizwan gloving on the bounce through to Paine. There’s also inswing and pace and a variety of lengths. The full Starc mixed bag, and no runs scored.
32nd over: Pakistan 97-5 (Babar Azam 36, Rizwan 2) If you want to get a sense of the bowling accuracy this morning, look at how few runs have been scored to fine leg. Babar gets one here from Hazlewood, and it’s a rare gift for him to get off strike. Rizwan is a little more proactive, punching into a gap at cover for a run.
31st over: Pakistan 95-5 (Babar Azam 35, Rizwan 1) Cummins again, and Rizwan is happy to treat him with respect. A series of leaves, blocks, and a duck for the bouncer. Another maiden for Cummins, five in his dozen overs now. Two wickets for 24 for him.
30th over: Pakistan 95-5 (Babar Azam 35, Rizwan 1) Babar takes a single, Hazlewood takes a wicket. Easy as that. Rizwan comes to the middle along with the drinks trolley. A nice way to start your innings. Not much left in this match now for Pakistan except for these two to make a statement. Rizwan played really well in the first innings and was unlucky to be given out off what should have been called a no-ball. Babar played a shocker of a shot in the first dig and would love to make up for it. So they’ll have the second hour of this morning session in Brisbane in the first instance. Hazlewood finishes the over after the break, and Rizwan almost ends his resistance very early by chopping onto the stumps. He’s off the mark. Pakistan trail by 236.
Wicket! Iftikhar Ahmed c Paine b Hazlewood 0 (Pakistan 94-5)
That didn’t last long. A decent delivery from Hazlewood but nothing more than that. On off stump, moving away a touch, and it draws the pointless push and the edge behind. Now we’ll get the entertainment of Mohammad Rizwan, after drinks.
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29th over: Pakistan 93-4 (Babar Azam 34, Iftikhar 0) The new batsman is Iftikhar Ahmed, the all-rounder who bowls some off-spin for Pakistan. A short leg comes in so that Cummins can keep bouncing. Iftikhar sees it out, and it’s a wicket maiden.
Wicket! Shan Masood c Paine b Cummins 42 (Pakistan 93-4)
The pull shot eventually proves his undoing! A bit of a nothing delivery, the short ball is heading down leg side and Masood just wants to help it on its way. The right choice of shot but he just doesn’t execute, a bit late and instead of knocking it to ground he just nudges it through to the wicketkeeper. Cummins a bit fortunate with that particular ball, but it’s been a fine spell leading up to it.
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28th over: Pakistan 93-3 (Shan Masood 42, Babar Azam 34) Masood keeps playing the pull shot well, almost every time the bowlers have gone short. Such a useful shot when it can help you rotate strike against aggressive deliveries. Babar is becalmed for the last four balls again, but he’s also almost castled by one of them, cutting into him and keeping low. That variable bounce again.
27th over: Pakistan 92-3 (Shan Masood 41, Babar Azam 34) Cummins to Masood again, and again bowls a beauty that sizzles past the outside edge again. This is some display of fast bowling, but Masood has survived so far. Leaves the next ball, ducks a bouncer, then find another run to the leg side. Nudge, run.
26th over: Pakistan 91-3 (Shan Masood 40, Babar Azam 34) Hazlewood continues, Masood in his sights, but again the batsman escapes early. He’s been managing this innings well, keeping his score moving. Babar has found it harder to work the ball around. Leaves or blocks for the most part.
25th over: Pakistan 90-3 (Shan Masood 39, Babar Azam 34) Cummins nearly gets his man! Past the edge of Masood, that one bounces a lot from a fullish length and zings past the batsman chest-high. Variable bounce is the last thing Pakistan need. But I guess it is day four. Masood manages to get off strike with a midwicket single. Relief for him, annoyance for Cummins. The quarry has escape. Babar sees out the rest of the over.
24th over: Pakistan 89-3 (Shan Masood 38, Babar Azam 34) Hazlewood continues his working over of Babar. Off stump, off stump, leaving him, holding the line. From the fourth ball Babar pushes through cover and might have got a boundary, but Wade sprints back to support his bowler and keeps it to two. Then JH drops short and Babar pulls him, in the air but evading the midwicket catcher by enough. Just enough. Four runs.
23rd over: Pakistan 83-3 (Shan Masood 38, Babar Azam 28) Four for Shan Masood! A bit streaky, driving at Cummins who is bowling around the wicket to the left-hander, driven through backward point. Could easily have gone wrong, but it comes off this time. He plays the pull shot well a couple of balls later though. A bit of height around Shan, and he got over the ball.
22nd over: Pakistan 77-3 (Shan Masood 32, Babar Azam 28) Now Hazlewood gets his chance, with Lyon dragged after that expensive over. Time to turn the screws, Paine decides. Babar is determinedly defending. It’s swinging a bit for the Hoff as he pitches up. Flirts with the outside edge of Babar a couple of times, once along the ground, twice beating the bat entirely. Top over.
21st over: Pakistan 77-3 (Shan Masood 32, Babar Azam 28) Another close one for Shan, who pushes at Cummins and edges him into the cordon. Went at it softly and so the edge didn’t carry. Another maiden for Cummins.
20th over: Pakistan 77-3 (Shan Masood 32, Babar Azam 28) Shan Masood is nearly caught! Premeditates a wipe against Lyon, down the ground but not to the pitch, and hits it airborne. Burns dives across at mid-off and fingertips it away, mid air. Shan takes three, Babar comes on strike. Two runs for him square of the wicket, then goes back to cut a boundary through point, and returns to the leg side for two more. The over costs 11. Confidence booster, despite the near miss.
19th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Shan Masood 29, Babar Azam 20) Pat Cummins to start from the other end, outside Babar’s off stump and left alone. Gets one that seems to jump at him, that might be a factor as the day wears on. He’s not looking composed outside off, following up with an inside edge into the pads. A maiden for Cummins.
18th over: Pakistan 66-3 (Shan Masood 29, Babar Azam 20) Nathan Lyon starts the day, probably to allow Josh Hazlewood to swing around to the other end to where he was bowling last night, is the theory from Jason Gillespie on ABC Grandstand. Shan Masood starts with a cut shot for a couple of runs. Lots of chatter from the Australians coming through the stump mics, with Warner prominent as always. Everything is above board though for now.
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Here is our twin OBO of England’s ongoing Test over in New Zealand, where Watling is still batting. Also India are playing a day-night Test against Bangladesh, where Virat Kohli last night made his 70th international ton. As you do.
Here is the wires report of the day from yesterday if you want more details.
Preamble
Here we are again, for what should surely be the last day of this Test match, even if it’s only the fourth. Pakistan are already three wickets down and a million runs behind (276 if you’re counting), and Australia’s bowlers had a good night’s sleep after a brief frolic yesterday evening following two days with their feet up.
Pakistan haven’t been in this match since lunch on the first day, when their stubborn opening stand turned into a collapse of top-order wickets. Five went down without much addition to the score, and only a substantial rearguard from Asad Shafiq got them to 240. That could have been competitive had they bowled well, but they missed the control of Mohammad Abbas and weren’t consistent enough to build pressure on Australia’s top three, all of whom made big scores.
Now it’s a matter of time, unless Shan Masood and Babar Azam can produce something special. Shan was impressively committed in the first innings and in the field, so perhaps he’ll fight on. Babar has the talent to play a big innings in Australia at some point. More likely, the quality of Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon will tell.
