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Aussies close in on big Gabba 1st Test win

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23rd November, 2019
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Australia can’t have dreamed of a better start to the summer as they eye a big victory over Pakistan in the first Test at the Gabba.

Australia are seven wickets away from a perfect start to the Test summer and inflicting a demoralising defeat on Pakistan.

On song with bat and ball, the Aussies are poised to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series in Brisbane as soon as Sunday afternoon.

Three years ago at the Gabba, Pakistan almost pulled off the impossible by threatening to chase down a world-record 490 on the last two days.

But with another 276 runs required just to make Australia bat again and sunny skies predicted for Sunday and Monday, Pakistan would require an even bigger miracle this year.

Mitchell Starc looks to have re-found his groove with two late wickets on Saturday to reduce Pakistan to 3-64, while Pat Cummins also took one.

Starc’s opening-spell wickets go with his four in the first innings, and come after a difficult Ashes series in which he had been overlooked for all but one Test.

He dismissed captain Azhar Ali lbw on Saturday evening in his second over and nicked off Haris Sohail in his next off another poor shot by the disappointed No.3.

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Cummins’ wicket also came from an edge, although his ball that angled across Asad Shafiq was much more difficult for the batsman to negotiate.

“The process here is quite simple,” Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne said when asked of Sunday’s plans. 

“Keep bashing the wicket – it looks like Nathan (Lyon) is getting some spin out there, especially to the leftie.

“There’s little bit of up and down so, hopefully, we can get a few hitting in the cracks and staying low.”

With the bat, Australia will also be pleased.

David Warner hit his first century since the ball-tampering ban, while Joe Burns locked himself in as his opening partner.

Labuschagne looks an answer at No.3, after cracking his first Test century on Saturday with a massive 185.

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Matthew Wade also hit a half-century, with Travis Head and Steve Smith the only men in the top six to miss out.

© AAP

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