Starc star with the bat and ball in second Test
Steven Smith and the company registered a respectable win over Pakistan in 2nd Test match at Melbourne on Friday. Pakistan Captain Misbah –Ul –Haq won the toss and elected to bat first.
After they won the toss Pakistan made 443 runs for lost of 9 wicket and declare the first innings on Day 3. For Pakistan it was Azhar Ali was the top scorer with 205 runs. This is his 3rd double hundred in Test Matches. Asad Shafiq (50) and Sohail Khan(65) contribute to build a decent score for Pakistan. while in the bowling department, it was Jackson Bird and Josh Hazlewood, who claimed three wickets each.
In Reply that Australia made 624 runs for lost of 8 wickets. David Warner set the platform for Australian to score this mammoth total. He made 144 runs in 143 balls. Usman Khawaja(97) and Peter Handscomb(54) contributed with half centuries. However it was Australian captain Steven Smith who made a brilliant 165 runs and well supported by Mitchell Starc, who scored 84 runs in 91 balls. Both Smith and Star added 154 runs in about just 30 overs. Eventually Australia decided to declare their innings with the 181 runs lead on day 05.
Pakistan had a good chance to draw this match but they were bowled out in just 53.2 Overs and they manage to score 163 runs. Azhar Ali(43) and wicket keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed(43) made starts but they couldn’t convert them to big score. Pakistan never really got going on 2nd Innings and they lost wickets regular intervals. while in the bowling department, it was Mitchell Starc, who claimed four wickets.
Australia won the 2nd Test match against Pakistan by an Innings and 18 runs. Australian Captain Steven Smith named as player of the match for his magnificent hundred.
Match Summary – Australia vs Pakistan : 2nd Test
Australia won by an Innings and 18 runs
Pakistan 1st Innings – 443/9d (126.3)
Azhar Ali – 205(364) | Sohail Khan – 65(65) | J Hazlewood – 3/50
Australia 1st Innings – 624/8d (142)
S Smith – 165(246) | D Warner – 144(143) | Sohail Khan – 3/131
Pakistan 2nd Innings -163 (53.2)
Sarfraz – 43(62) | Azhar Ali – 43(112) | M Starc – 4/36
