AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Pakistan’s cricketer Abdullah Shafique is having a tough time in doing proper fielding in Australia. He dropped his third catch of the Test series giving a new life to Australian batter, Mitchell Marsh. The Australian batter was on 20 when Shafique dropped him. And the mistake proved costly for Pakistan as he went on to score 96 in the second innings missing the much anticipated century for just 4 runs. He went back to the hut at 96 when he was caught at the same position at which he was dropped by Shafique at the beginning of the innings.
Shafique’s Fielding Woes proved costly for Pakistan
It was Agha Salman who did the job by dismissing Marsh at the first slip by taking a diving catch. Shafique’s third missed catch was described as ‘crocodile jaw trying to catch a ball’ by Mark Waugh who was doing commentary when the incident took place in the 15th over. Waugh who was himself an outstanding slip fielder was shocked after seeing Shafique’s fielding technique at slip. Sjafique was trying to catch the ball by placing his hands in a crocodile jaw position which is not the right technique to catch a ball.
Marsh made complete use of the second lifeline which he got in the second innings by scoring a quickfire 90 runs in just 130 balls. His innings included 13 fours as he batted with a healthy Test match strike rate of 73.85. His family was watching from the stands & were quite upset to see him not score a ton & betting dismissed just 4 runs away from it.
AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Aussies get edge over visitors on Day 3
Earlier in the first innings Pakistan got bowled for 264 runs. Pakistan could have an upper hand in the fixture with Shafique dismissing Marsh on 20 & would have reduced Australia to 46-5 opening the doors for visitors to bowl out hosts for a poor score. But Pakistan’s poor fielding efforts proved costly for them as Marsh went on to smash the bowlers across the ground to bring the Aussies back on track.
It was Marsh’s rewarding fifth wicket stand that brought Australia back into the game on Day 3 of the MCG Test. Smith had registered his fifth Test fifty to extend their lead beyond 230 runs. Australia managed to end day 3 with a massive lead of 241 runs. Alex Carey is batting & is currently on 16 runs he will resume Aussies innings on Day 4. For Pakistan Shaheen & Hamza starred with the ball by returning with three wickets each.
Can Pakistan reduce the gap & take a lead on day 4 or they will continue to lag behind & eventually end up losing this fixture as well?
Also read, AUS vs PAK 2nd Test: Play stopped with 3rd Umpire Missing
