Australia Clinches Thrilling Series Win Over Pakistan in Boxing Day Test

Australia has emerged victorious in a nail-biting Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, clinching the series with a decisive 79-run win at the MCG. Chasing a challenging target of 317 in the final innings, Pakistan put up a valiant fight, reaching 3-146 thanks to a steady knock from Babar Azam (41).

However, the tide turned dramatically in the final session as Australian skipper Pat Cummins and paceman Mitchell Starc tore through the Pakistani batting lineup.

The turning point arrived with a sensational delivery from Josh Hazlewood that dismissed Azam. Renowned cricket commentator Ian Smith, on air with Fox Cricket, declared it “the biggest moment in this Test match.” Pakistan, once cruising at 5-162, crumbled under the relentless pressure, eventually succumbing for 237.

Starc finished with impressive figures of 4-55, but it was Cummins who truly owned the show. The Australian captain claimed a second five-wicket haul in the second innings, ending the match with a remarkable 10 wickets to his name. His exceptional performance drew effusive praise from cricket legends like Michael Vaughan.

“This Australia team, they’re just such a juggernaut,” Vaughan gushed on Fox Cricket. “They know how to win, they know how to grab the moment. They don’t drop chances, they take pretty much everything that comes their way, and in Pat Cummins, they have an outstanding captain.”

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Despite the series defeat, Pakistan skipper Shan Masood remained optimistic, highlighting the positives from his team’s performance. “We have to look at the bigger picture and the smiles are there because there were a lot of positives,” Masood said. “We can easily be like ‘what if we did this or what if we did that,’ but that’s all part of the process of the game.”

He acknowledged the mistakes that cost Pakistan the match, but also emphasized the value of learning from them. “If you give a quality side like Australia a sniff, which we did, maybe sometimes with the ball, maybe sometimes with the bat.”

“Yesterday in the field if you drop someone like who’s in form like Mitchell Marsh we might not have been chasing [317] today but mistakes happen,” Masood conceded. “But in terms of the bigger picture, this is the way we want to play Test cricket.”

Cummins was deservedly named player of the match for his stellar performance throughout the series. His leadership and bowling prowess proved instrumental in Australia’s dominant victory, solidifying their position as a cricketing powerhouse.

Key Takeaways from Australia vs Pakistan second Test Match at the MCG

* Australia claimed a thrilling 79-run victory over Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test.

* Pat Cummins was the hero of the match, taking 10 wickets across both innings.

* Pakistan showed promise but ultimately fell short against a formidable Australian team.

* Both sides can take valuable lessons from this closely contested series.