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AUSTRALIA and Pakistan both suffered batting collapses on a day dominated by the ball, but rookie Peter Handscomb emerged as a genuine star, scoring his maiden Test century.
Pakistan 8/97 after 43 overs. Ahmed 31, Amir 8
Australia all out 429 from 130.1 overs. Smith 130, Handscomb 105
Stumps report
Brisbane’s first taste of day-night Test cricket looks like being a short one as Pakistan suffered a humiliating batting collapse in the final session of day two.
The tourists had moved to 1/43 in response to Australia’s first innings 429 before all hell broke loose. Josh Hazlewood took two wickets in two balls in the first over of a new spell, firstly drawing Babar Azam into a loose drive to have him caught in the slips before delivering the perfect ball to a new batsman when Younis Khan arrived at the crease. He landed the Kookaburra on a good length just outside off stump and Khan prodded uncertainly to be caught behind.
From then on it only got worse. Jackson Bird got the important scalp of Misbah-ul-Haq and Mitchell Starc bowled with venom to pick up three poles of his own. Strangely, all of his wickets were caught by Usman Khawaja at third slip.
Youngster Sami Aslam showed some backbone at the top of the order, blunting the hosts’ attack before he was strangled down the leg side for 22. Wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed was the only other batsman to display any resistance, heading into the sheds unbeaten on 31.
Nathan Lyon showed he’ll be a handful on the Gabba wicket, extracting serious turn and bounce from his eight overs.
When the eighth wicket fell Pakistan had lost 7/24 but they managed to add a further 30 runs before day’s end to finish at 8/97.
Earlier, Peter Handscomb showed his debut performance in Adelaide was no fluke. He scored a half century against South Africa in that match, but he went even better this time around, scoring a brilliant 105.
He soaked up 240 balls in his innings, demonstrating great maturity and patience in waiting for balls in his zone to pick off. He scored prolifically behind point and also used his feet to the spinners, dancing down the wicket to whip them to the on side.
He raced through the 90s, hitting a six down the ground off leg-spinner Yasir Shah then square driving for a boundary to reach triple figures.
His masterclass somewhat hid yet another Australian collapse. The home side lost 4/31, but Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird combined for a last wicket stand of 49 to push the total above 400.
It would have been less had Pakistan held onto some catches. Mohammad Amir dropped Steve Smith at long off and Nic Maddinson was put down at short leg on nought. Neither incident cost the tourists much, but when you compare them to the Aussies who caught everything, it shows there’s plenty Mickey Arthur’s men need to work on if they’re to challenge Steve Smith and Co. this summer.
Maddinson would be upset he couldn’t make the most of his life, falling for one to go with his duck in Adelaide. It’s looking likely he’ll make way for Shaun Marsh in the Boxing Day Test if the West Australian is fit enough to play.
news.com.au
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