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Australia take command of first Test
by Jinu Sabastian


Ground:Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Scorecard:Australia v Pakistan
Player:Mohammad Aamer, SR Watson, Umar Akmal
Event:Pakistan in Australia 2009/10

DateLine: 28th December 2009

 

Australia continued their domination of the first Test over Pakistan as the home side ended the day with a massive 307 runs ahead. Watson continued his exceptional run at the top of the order as he cracked another authoritative half-century and he had vice-captain Clarke at the crease with him. The pair blunted the Pakistani bowling attack as they added 71 in 22.5 overs.

 

The day began with Pakistan at 109 for 4 with the teenage brigade at the crease. Umar Akmal and Mohammad Aamer had shown during the New Zealand tour that they had the heart and the skill to counter some of the trickiest situations and the two once again showed what they were made of. Akmal got the blood circulating in his legs with an elegant cover-drive of a seething Siddle who it was evident had underestimated the teenager. Akmal continued to stamp his class over the Australian bowlers with an elegant straight-drive which infuriated Siddle to no end and the bowler kept charging at the batsmen with full steam. It was then the prodigy unfurled his talent which left the opposition and the crow stunned.

 

In the 59th over of the innings and Siddle’s 17th over Akmal was greeted with a short ball which the batsman fended away nervously. Siddle persisted with the short ball strategy and Umar decided to take on. Akmal heaved the pacer over mid wicket for a boundary to which Siddle tried to bounce the batsman out. But Akmal was up to the task as he unfurled two sumptuous pull shots one which crossed the boundary for maximum forcing Siddle to go for the fuller length to which Akmal replied by caressing it through covers for a boundary. Akmal also showed that he could also use delicate nudges to score boundaries as evident from his guide to third man to register his second Test fifty of 79 balls. But the youngster’s innings was brought to an end when he stood in his crease and tried to flay a ball through covers but could only edge it to Ponting at second slip.

 

Mohammad Aamer and Misbah took Pakistan safely to lunch but after lunch the former’s dodgy innings ended when Bollinger got the southpaw to fend of a rising delivery straight to North at first slip. Kamran Akmal (12) departed soon when a leaden footed drive from the batsman could only result in a healthy edge to Haddin. Bollinger continued to dent a hole through Pakistani innings when Abdur Rauf edged one behind to Haddin as the Pakistani innings crumbled. When Asif departed for a duck the end seemed imminent and finally a 38 run partnership for the last wicket between Misbah and Ajmal got Pakistan past the follow-on mark.

 

Australia in reply got of to a bumpy start as Katich (2) was removed by Asif courtesy to an excellent diving catch from Kamran Akmal. Ponting (12) never looked comfortable in his 14 ball stay as his favoured pull shot brought about his downfall. Hussey (4) did not survive for long when Aamer trapped him leg before to which umpire Doctrove agreed, but Hussey was unimpressed. He called for a review of the decision but the third umpire did not feel to correct the on-field umpire’s decision. The Pakistani bowlers, Asif and Aamer in particular looked charged up as the duo ran in with purpose to try and make amends for their batsmen’s ineptitude.

 

Watson and Clarke took some time to settle in as the Pakistani pacers were all over the Australian batsmen. The pair waited for the Aamer-Asif duo to finish their spell and the targeted the weak link in the attack - Abdur Rauf. Rauf is slower when compared to Aamer and does not posses the wicked swing of Asif as he is more of a wicket to wicket bowler. Pakistan lost their final review when Rauf was convinced that he had trapped Watson leg before but the on-field umpire negated the appeal. Rauf immediately convinced his skipper to go for the review but it was evident to even the naked eye that Watson had a huge inside-edge and the third umpire did not take too long to spot it. Ajmal tried hard to disrupt the batsmen's concentration by changing the angles, bowling out all his variations, extracting sharp spin but he was negotiated well by a nimble-footed Clarke. Watson who had serious trouble in reading Ajmal's doosra in the first innings looked quite comfortable against the off spinner.

 

Watson soon brought up his fifty in 86 balls and with Rauf unable to create any sort of pressure Yousuf soon brought back Aamer who was right on the money from ball number one. But the Australian duo - Watson and Clarke - did well to take Australia to safety as Australia ended the day on 111 for the loss of three wickets with an overall lead of 307 runs.

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