Pat Cummins led from the front as Australia blew away Pakistan to win the second Test in Melbourne on Friday, while also taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Australian captain Cummins took five wickets and 10 in the match as the hosts won by 79 runs after an extended final session on Day 4. The lanky pacer struck three times after Tea, before Mitchell Starc took two wickets in as many balls to complete the Pakistan match to conclude. innings.
Chasing a target of 317, Pakistan captain Shan Masood scored a quick 60 as Agha Salman (50) and Babar Azam (41) gave them a fighting chance.
Babar appeared to have regained his mojo after three low scores, but Josh Hazlewood dismissed him shortly after Tea on 41.
While Pakistan may have been outplayed in the first two matches, the ongoing series was fought in good spirit with some healthy banter here and there.
Australia's Babar and Steve Smith also engaged in some hilarious banter as play was about to resume after Tea on Day 4.
Babar was on edge when Smith decided to speak to him. However, the former Pakistani decided to hand over his bat to Smith, who was forced to hold his hand by Babar's gesture.
Incredible banter!
Look at how Babar just asks Smith to bat as he prepares to take guard and Smith goes
#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/SYnsDFP7ao
— Nikhil (@CricCrazyNIKS) December 29, 2023
Both captains reflected on the match after Australia won the Boxing Day Test in four days.
“A little nervous, it felt good, but they were hitting pretty well,” Cummins said.
“Anything with a three in front of it was the target, so we understood that,” he added about the target they wanted to set for Pakistan. “It felt like we had enough to bowl, but a little tight.”
“We have to look at the bigger picture. There are a lot of positives,” Pakistan captain Masood said.
“This is the way we want to play Test cricket, fight till the end and a result was possible for us. There is a lot to work on. But this is a blueprint.”
It was always going to be an uphill task for Pakistan, with the highest ever successful fourth innings chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground being England's 332-7 in 1928, with no other team getting past 300.
(With AFP inputs)
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