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We all thought that there was no way the second Test would be like the first but the sequel is so far turning out to be just as bad as the original and both teams have been blamed for not moving the game forward as Australia finished Day 2 on 8 for 505 after 180 overs.
Pakistan’s negative tactics by bowling down the leg side on Day 1 gave way to Australia’s relatively sluggish batting on Day 2, given the match situation.
Pakistan did end up bowling much more aggressive lines but Australia seemed happy to go at their usual run rate.
Apart from Usman Khawaja notching another brilliant century, the peach of a delivery to get him out for 160 and some power hitting from Alex Carey (93) who fell just short of his maiden Test century late on Day 2 – the game has failed to live up to any great heights.
Usman Khawaja’s marathon innings ended as triple-strikes from Pakistan spinners stifled Australia’s momentum.
The second new ball came and went and then all focus went to the pavilion to see whether Aussie skipper Pat Cummins would declare. But it never came.
“I’m really surprised,” Simon Katich said in commentary.
“I honestly thought Australia would be wanting to bowl tonight to Pakistan. Some heavy legs out there. Get this Test Match moving forward.”
“I know there’s been a lot of talk about this Karachi wicket deteriorating. But what if it doesn’t and it still plays like this for the next few days and Pakistan dig in? Australia are going to run out of time to set this Test Match up.”
With two spinners in their lineup it seemed like Australia’s tactics were to bat Pakistan out of the game and pile the pressure on if and when the pitch does break up.
Given that that the pitch doesn’t have any real gremlins yet you can see why Cummins chose the defensive option but it’s not great for the spectacle in a series crying out for a team to take the initiative.
“I think the way the match is going it was quite an important,” Alex Carey said about his 93.
“If we can get as many runs as possible in this first innings, hopefully the pitch starts to deteriorate tomorrow going into Day 4 and we can create those 20 chances.”
Earlier, nightwatchman Nathan Lyon made 38, his third-highest score from 135 Test innings, while Cameron Green (28) and Travis Head (23) failed to cash in after promising starts.
But an expected Australian acceleration and declaration failed to materialise with only the stylish Carey scoring freely. He hit two sixes and seven fours from 159 balls.
Pakistani tweaker Sajid Khan finished with 2-151 from 54 overs while paceman Faheem Ashraf took 2-55.
Sajid dismissed Head and Khawaja in a 10-over span in the middle session.
Offspinner Sajid trapped Head leg before wicket when the left-hander tried to turn a fullish delivery to the leg-side but missed.
Head, who struck five fours in his 48 balls, was adjudged lbw but opted to review, with replays showing the ball just clipping leg stump.
The South Australian’s dismissal left Australia 5-347 and just 13 runs later Sajid claimed Khawaja’s wicket with a superb delivery.
Khawaja played back to an offspinner which turned away and beat the outside edge to hit off stump, ending an epic 369-ball innings from the Australian opener.
Khawaja posted his third-highest Test score, hitting 15 fours and a six in a knock which lasted until the 131st over.
After his exit, Cameron Green (28) and Carey pair put on 45 until Nauman bowled Green with a turning delivery which hit the top of off stump.
Earlier, Khawaja resumed on 127 with Lyon, who set the scoring pace as the pair batted for the initial 75 minutes of the day.
Lyon hit five fours from 62 balls before being bowled by Faheen. The spinner tried to whip a full ball through the leg-side but missed, the ball cannoning into his pads, then into the stumps.
Lyon dominated his partnership with Khawaja, scoring 38 of the 53 runs on Sunday until his dismissal.
Their stand was the second-highest of the day, with Carey and a circumspect Mitchell Starc (28 from 95 balls) adding 98 for the eighth wicket until Carey was bowled by part-time spinner Babar Azam (1-7) three overs before stumps.
With AAP
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