Bad to worse for Australia in UAE

In less than four overs, Australia’s hopes of winning, or even saving, the first Test against Pakistan disappeared in the dust of Dubai.

Set the task of scoring a world-record 438 to win, Australia will resume on Sunday’s fifth and final day on 4-59.

Having reached 0-44 late on Saturday, Australia lost 4-5 in 23 balls.

First-innings century-maker David Warner was stumped for 29 and Alex Doolan was lbw for a duck in the 14th over, bowled by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar.

Yasir Shah, who watched a video of Shane Warne day after day as a child to learn the art of legspin, made two breakthroughs in the 17th over.

The debutant claimed the prize wicket of Michael Clarke for three and also dismissed nightwatchman Nathan Lyon for a duck, both lbw.

Clarke, who made just five runs in the match, elected not to call for a video review of his second-innings dismissal although there was some doubt over whether it was pad-bat or bat-pad.

The skipper knew he’d made a mistake as soon as he returned to the dressing room and viewed the replay.

Asked at his media conference what was going through his mind when he opted against asking for a review, Clarke said: “Ah, I’d like to know as well.”

Clarke said he wasn’t sure if he’d hit the ball and Rogers was also unsure.

“So I was thinking it was probably pad then bat if I did hit it at all,” he said.

“My mindset is because I’m unsure I didn’t want to waste the referral when I knew the rest of my teammates were probably going to need them tomorrow.

“It was certainly an error on my part looking back at the replay once I walked off the field.

“The ball didn’t really spin much. I should have used my bat.”

Clarke says now is not the time to pick apart the dismissals of some of his teammates.

“I’m really disappointed with my personal performance,” he said.

“I’m not looking to blame anybody else or criticise anybody else.”

But he believes there is still fight left in his side with six wickets in hand.

Chris Rogers is 23 not out with Steve Smith on three.

“It’s really important they play their natural game and back themselves. Anything can happen in this game,” he said.

Pakistan declared on 2-286 in their second innings after centuries from Ahmed Shehzad (131) and,Younis Khan (103 not out).

Younis is the first player to score two centuries in a Test against Australia since New Zealand’s Glenn Turner in Christchurch in 1974.

Debutant Steve O’Keefe claimed his second two-wicket haul of the match and fellow spinner Lyon suffered match figures of 2-220.