MELBOURNE: Pakistan, struggling to avoid follow-on, were 109 runs for four wickets at stumps on second day of the first Test against Australia on Sunday,dec27 at the MCG, the world’s largest cricket ground.
After the surprising declaration by Australia captain Ricky Ponting at 454-4 an hour before tea, Pakistan batsmen played under pressure and lost their first wicket at 26 when opener Imran Farhat was out lbw by fast bowler Neil Johnson at 9.
Pakistan were 33-1 at tea and later they lost three more wickets in the final session. Faisal Iqbal was dismissed by off-spinner Nathan Hauritz caught Michael Clarke for 15 when Pakistan reached 59.
Then, captain Mohammad Yousuf joined opener Salman Butt and they added 25 runs before Butt was lbw to Shane Watson after scoring responsible 45.
Later, Yousuf who was batting at ease got an edge from glove to give catch to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin just a minute befor the stumps. He made 22.
Earlier, Ricky Ponting called his men in when night watchman Nathan Hauritz was given out on 75 - his highest Test score - by review leaving Pakistan an hour to bat out to tea.
Hauritz was lbw to Abdur Rauf after three hours at the crease, Michael Clarke remained unbeaten on 28.
However, the off-spinner appears to have exacerbated a groin strain he carried into the match and looked uncomfortable in the latter stages of the innings.
Michael Hussey joined the long list of Australian batsman failing to convert a good score into a 100 when he fell on 82 this morning.
Pakistan bowlers seemed at a loss what to do on the docile Melbourne pitch and it is a worry that a night watchman like Hauritz should survive the morning spell with a relatively new ball and few problems.
Hauritz was dropped on 36 and played the odd false shot but he also contributed a couple of almost batsman like wafts of the willow.
Hussey became spinner Saeed Ajmal’s (1-129) first wicket of the match when he was trapped lbw with the score on 382.
A referral showed the ball hit slightly outside the line of off stump, but not so much that it warranted a reversal.
Hussey and the night watchman Hauritz put on 91 runs in 127 minutes from 178 balls. (News sourced from: www.geo.tv)
