Pakistan’s Gritty Fightback in Sydney Test Against Australia.
Aamer Jamal leads Pakistan to 313 after top-order failure. In a remarkable turnaround, Pakistan showcased resilience on the first day of the third Test against Australia in Sydney, finishing with a commendable total of 313. Facing adversity at 96 for five after choosing to bat, the tourists staged a counter-attack led by Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, and Aamer Jamal.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rizwan exhibited prowess with a commanding 88 off 103 balls, while Aamer Jamal contributed a spirited 82 off 97. Agha Salman also played a crucial role with his innings of 53 off 67, providing a glimmer of hope for Pakistan after a challenging start.
David Warner, in his 112th and final Test, had a nervy moment in the final over but managed to survive and ended the day with six runs in Australia’s reply of 6-0.
Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins shone with the ball, claiming five wickets for 61 runs, marking his third consecutive five-wicket haul in the series.
The day began with elation for Australia but concluded in frustration as Pakistan’s lower order fought valiantly to rescue their team from a precarious situation. Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman’s determined partnership defied the Australian attack, providing a much-needed boost for Pakistan in the ongoing Test series.
Rousing morning
Salman took up the cudgels with a half-century before he was caught by Travis Head off Mitchell Starc.
Jamal kept the fightback going as he registered his highest Test score before he fell to Nathan Lyon.
That left Warner to see out the final over of the day and he began with a flourish, cutting the first ball for four from spinner Sajid Khan.
It was a rousing morning session for Australia as openers Abdullah Shafique and debutant Saim Ayub were dismissed inside two overs.
The out-of-form Shafique fell to the second ball of Starc’s opening over and Ayub, brought in for Imam-ul-Haq to make his Test debut, only lasted two balls before a Hazlewood outswinger had him caught behind by Alex Carey.
Babar Azam hit three glorious cover drives to the ropes before he was out for 26.
Cummins appealed vociferously for lbw but was turned down by the umpire, only to seek a review and get the verdict, leaving the tourists tottering at 39 for three.
Saud Shakeel copped a nasty blow on the collarbone from a Cummins lifter and in the Australian skipper’s next over he prodded a catch behind to Carey for five, leaving his side further in the mire at 47 for four.
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Skipper Shan Masood, on 32, was caught by Smith at second slip off Mitchell Marsh just after lunch but it was ruled a no-ball.
Marsh got the last laugh two overs later when Masood, on 35, again edged the medium-pacer to Smith in almost identical fashion to leave Pakistan at 96 for five.
Australia clinched the three-match series with a tense 79-run win in the second Test in Melbourne over Christmas.
