Nathan Lyon’s 500th wicket delayed as Australia dominate Pakistan
Australia_Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith dug in to stretch Australia’s lead and take the first Test away from Pakistan Saturday, as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon moved within one wicket of the 500-mark.
The hosts reached stumps on day three in Perth at 84-2, building their lead to 300 after bowling out the visitors on the cusp of tea for 271 in reply to their first innings 487.
Veteran spinner Lyon was the best of the bowlers with 3-66, but he was made to wait to reach a milestone that will put him in elite company alongside just seven other players.
At the close, Khawaja was on 34 and Smith 43 as Pakistan’s hopes of a first Test win in Australia since 1995 faded.
The home side had a shaky start with first innings century-maker David Warner out for a duck.
The 37-year-old, fresh from his defiant 164, mis-timed a pull shot from Khurram Shahzad and lobbed to Imam-ul-Haq for a comfortable catch at mid-wicket.
Marnus Labuschagne also surrendered cheaply on a pitch offering uneven bounce, out for two with Shahzad again the tormentor, tempting a big edge taken by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.
It left Australia tottering at 2-5.
But Khawaja and Smith steadied the ship with an unbeaten 79-run partnership heading into day four and a potential declaration.
Pakistan resumed on 132-2 after building a solid foundation in the run chase, but they were no match for Australia’s top-class attack.
Stoic opener Haq began on 38 and nightwatchman Shahzad on seven.
Shahzad, on his debut, lasted just two balls before Pat Cummins took out his middle stump in the first over with a full and straight delivery.
That brought dangerman Babar Azam to the crease in his 50th Test, tentatively facing 13 balls before getting off the mark with a cover drive to the ropes off Cummins.
Biding his time against a seam attack finding bounce and speed on a pitch baked by the sun, he struck another in Cummins’ next over to ensure the scoreboard ticked over.
At the other end, Haq continued chipping away and brought up a ninth Test 50, and his first in Australia, off a glacial 161 balls with a single off Lyon.
But the runs were hard to come by and when Mitchell Marsh was introduced, he immediately made an impact, removing Azam for 21, with the former captain edging to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
It sparked a mini-collapse, with Haq stumped for 62 when Lyon was brought back into the attack, charging down the wicket in a lapse of concentration, with Carey whipping off the bails.
Sarfaraz Ahmed lasted just six balls, having no answer to Mitchell Starc’s swinging delivery that sent the stumps flying.
Read More Daily The Destination; Shaheen’s 132-2 in reply to Australia’s first innings total of 487
Australia took the new ball after lunch and Josh Hazlewood produced a quality bouncer that Saud Shakeel tried to fend off but lobbed to Warner at slip.
He departed for 28 and Faheem Ashraf followed for nine, caught low by Khawaja at square leg off Cummins.
Australia’s bowlers shared the wickets, delaying Nathan Lyon’s 500th as Pakistan bundled out for 271 in their first innings in the first Test at the Perth Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts took a 300-run lead on day three of the first test. Off-spinner Lyon remained on 499 test wickets after taking 3-66. Imam-ul-Haq top-scored with 62 for Pakistan, bowled out in 101.5 overs.
Australia chose not to enforce the follow-on, ending the day at 84-2 from 33 overs after posting 487 in their first innings.
“I think batting looked really tough there at the end. As the game goes along, I think the cracks will come more into play,” said Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood, who took 1-49.
Resuming on 132-2, Pakistan almost lost Khurram Shahzad to a run-out on the first ball, but skipper Pat Cummins (2-35) prevented further damage, clean-bowling the nightwatchman (7) two deliveries later.
Imam, who uncharacteristically danced past a Lyon delivery to get stumped by Alex Carey, had consolidated with Babar Azam (21) but a collapse before lunch saw three quick wickets lost for 14 runs.
Some resistance from Agha Salman (28 not out) propped up Pakistan. Lyon got his second stumping for wicket 499 when Aamer Jamal (10) fell.
Part-time spinner Travis Head ended the Pakistan innings, drawing Shaheen Afridi into a slog-sweep, caught by Usman Khawaja at mid-on.
“Travis said that when they replay your 500th wicket, you don’t want it to be a tail-ender; you want it to be a good wicket up the top,” joked Hazlewood.
In the post-tea session, Australia lost first-inning centurion David Warner for a duck and Marnus Labuschagne for two as Shahzad’s double-strike threatened to inject some spice into the contest.
Pacers Shahzad and Afridi, understanding the Perth Stadium conditions better in their second effort, restricted the hosts to seven runs in the first 10 overs, bowling with increased hostility.
Khawaja and Steve Smith steadied the ship, with a late scare when Smith hooked Afridi just over the head of a deep, fine leg for six. They ended the day unbeaten at 34 and 43, respectively.
