Headline: Pakistan Bounces Back Strongly, Takes Seven Wickets Against Australia by Lunch in Melbourne
During the morning session, the fast bowlers Aamer Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mir Hamza, and Hasan Ali will be in action.
MELBOURNE- Pakistan made a strong comeback in the second Test against Australia in Melbourne on Wednesday. They took seven wickets in the morning session, getting the hosts out for 318 by lunchtime.
The team from Pakistan took out Travis Head (17), Marnus Labuschagne (63), Alex Carey (four), Mitchell Starc (nine), Mitchell Marsh (41), Pat Cummins (13), and Nathan Lyon (eight) on the second morning. Aamer Jamal played a leading role in this effort, securing 3 wickets for 64 runs.
Australia started the day at 187-3 after a rainy and interrupted opening day. David Warner, Usman Khawaja, and Steve Smith were dismissed on the overcast day, which favored seam bowling. Pakistan won the toss and chose to field.
Labuschagne played solidly, holding his ground with a score of 44 from 120 balls until the overnight break.
Labuschagne got ready to bat alongside Head when they had nine runs on the board, and the sun was shining. He quickly hit a boundary off Shaheen Shah Afridi in the opening over, showing Australia’s determination to score runs.
Head, known for his aggressive style, hit Hasan Ali’s first ball to the ropes and repeated the feat in the same over, finding his rhythm swiftly. However, his attacking approach led to his downfall.
He went for a wide delivery from Afridi, resulting in a thick edge that was skillfully caught by Agha Salman with a diving effort in the slips.
Meanwhile, Labuschagne continued to work hard, achieving his 17th Test half-century at the other end.
Marsh faced some challenges, getting declared out twice in consecutive balls during a lively over from Ali, with West Indian umpire Joel Wilson making the decisions.
He contested both decisions, one for lbw and the other for caught behind, and was successful in overturning them after a review.
Marsh replied by hitting Ali for a four in the next over, and then he hit a big six and another boundary when Salman, a part-time spinner, started bowling.
However, just when it seemed like the game was slipping away from Pakistan, Jamal secured the crucial wicket of Labuschagne. Labuschagne edged the ball, and Abdullah Shafique at slip made the catch.
Carey and Starc soon joined him in the dressing room as Pakistan took advantage of the new ball. Marsh then got caught by Jamal at backward point off Mir Hamza, and the rest of the lower-order batsmen were dismissed quickly.
Australia secured victory in the initial Test of the three-match series in Perth, winning by a margin of 360 runs.
