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Posted:
2023-12-28 22:23:36
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-29/boxing-day-test-day-four-live-updates-australia-pakistan-mcg/103271762
Australia has survived a brave chase from Pakistan to win a thrilling Boxing Day Test by 79 runs on day four at the MCG.
A magnificent five-wicket haul for Pat Cummins, to go with his 5-48 in the first innings, led Australia to victory inside the extra half-hour on day four.
Half-centuries to Shan Masood and Agha Salman gave the tourists hope of a significant upset.
But when Muhammad Rizwan was controversially given out caught behind shortly before the scheduled close, the end was nigh, although it also gave Australia an extra half-hour to take the three wickets required for victory.
Pakistan's chase got off to a rotten start when Abdullah Shafique edged Mitchell Starc to Usman Khawaja at slip in the fifth over, and the Aussies thought they had Shan Masood soon after when he was given out LBW.
But he got the decision overturned when his review showed Nathan Lyon's delivery bouncing over the stumps, allowing him to carry on to lunch.
Five overs later, Imam-ul-Haq was on his way when he was trapped LBW and his review could not overturn the ruling.
Shan and Babar Azam gave Pakistan hope with a 61-run partnership for the third wicket, including some audacious attacking strokes from Pakistan's captain as he reached 60 before finally nicking Pat Cummins to Steve Smith at second slip.
Babar was key for Pakistan's hopes, desperate for a big score after nine innings without a half century to his name.
He battled hard but was ultimately done by a beauty from Josh Hazlewood that nipped back and bowled him through the gate for 41.
Starc then prised Saud Shakeel out for 24 after he feathered an attempted lofted cut to Carey behind the stumps.
Muhammad Rizwan and Agha Salman made it to drinks with Pakistan 5-169, desperately hanging on to a chance of a historic victory.
But when Rizwan was controversially out for 35, followed swiftly by Aamir Jamal for an eight-ball duck.
Australia were offered the extra half hour to wrap up victory — and did so comfortably.
Salman managed to secure a wonderful half-century, but Amir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza all fell without scoring as Starc wrapped up victory with wickets in consecutive balls.
Earlier, Australia was eventually bowled out for 262, with Alex Carey completing an impressive half-century — his first since the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Starc was new to the crease following Thursday's last-ball dismissal of Steve Smith, adding 9 to the total before being caught well by Babar Azam at slip.
Cummins lasted half an hour before he was caught behind off the finest of edges by Muhammad Rizwan off Aamir Jamal for 16.
The Australian skipper reviewed the out decision and, although hotspot did not appear to show a mark and a suggestion of a gap between bat and ball, there was a murmur on snicko that meant the decision could not be overturned.
Lyon was bowled by Jamal for 11 before Carey was finally dismissed on 53, trapped plumb LBW by the impressive Mir Hamza, who went at less than two runs per over for his 18.1 overs, 4-32 by far his best figures in his fledgling Test career.
That left Pakistan with a testing target of 317, which would have to be the highest successful chase at the MCG in 95 years.
It was ultimately beyond Pakistan's ability.
Look back on how all the action unfolded on day four in our live blog and check out the full scorecard and stats.
That will do us for today
What a game.
This series has been so exciting and you have to respect the Pakistan team for the skill and fight they've shown in both Tests.
We know have a little extended break before Sydney kicks off on January 3, but until then, keep an eye on ABC Sport for all the latest from the Test scene, the multi-format series in India and around the sporting world.
Thank you and see you next time!
Pat Cummins wins the Johnny Mullagh Medal
Australia's exceptional captain wins the medal named for the star of the Aboriginal team that toured England back in 1868, presented to him by Vicki and Lisa Couzens, descendants of James and John Couzens, who were members of that team.
"I love playing here. Boxing Day is the biggest Test match each year."
He admits there were some nerves when Pakistan got within double digits of the target.
"A little bit twitchy, felt OK but they were batting pretty nice."
He credits Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh for getting the team back in the game, but says the team always expects someone to step up.
"Even at 4-16 [in the second innings] the dressing room's really calm. We know someone's going to step up and it's going to be their day. Every week it feels like another match-winner stands up."
Pakistan skipper reserves praise for MCG groundstaff
After the usually captaincy chat, including some lamenting dropped catches and too many extras, Shan Masood makes a point of hailing Matt Page and his team.
"I thought they did a wonderful job. This is one of the better Test pitches we've ever played on. There was something for everyone and we're really glad that we got to play such an exciting Test match."
AUSTRALIA GETS THE WIN LATE ON DAY FOUR
Mitchell Starc comes in late and gets two wickets in two balls to wrap up a brilliant 79-run win, but this is the Pat Cummins Test.
He was superb in both bowling innings to take 10-97, contributed valuable lower-order runs, and made some excellent captaincy decision with his field placements and bowling changes.
Of note is also the quality of the contest we just witnessed. Bat and ball were both in the contest, the Pakistanis never relented or dropped their heads.
The pitch offered enough to bowlers without being a minefield, and Australia was made to work for an exciting Boxing Day Test and Benaud-Qadir Series victory.
Mitch Marsh takes a great grab and Australia needs one more!
It was short, Salman took it on and top edged towards third man. Steve Smith was running back from slip, Mitch Marsh was running forward from the rope, and it was the charging Bison who got there, diving forward and taking good grab in the shadows.
68th over - Mitchell Starc returns
Salman needs to farm the strike now. He just reached 50 for the sixth time in Tests and has an average in the high 40s. He's a proper batter and has his eye in.
Starc has been expensive. Can he clean up the tail?
Pat Cummins gets Shaheen and he has 10 wickets for the match!
Another shorter ball is edged high into the air by Shaheen Shah Afridi, and this time Marnus Labuschagne gets across from short leg to take a simple catch.
Not only has Cummins taking back-to-back five-wicket hauls, he's taken wickets at clutch times too.
Australia needs two wickets to win as Hassan Ali comes out to the middle.
FIFTY FOR SALMAN ALI AGHA
What a knock by the number seven, just when his team needs it.
The victory target is only 80 runs away.
67th over - Salman Ali Agha, on 49, faces Pat Cummins
He doesn't want a single, even if it would take him to a half-century.
66th over - Australia persisting with Lyon to Salman
Salman will keep trying to attack you'd imagine, especially now that short leg has been taken out.
He backs away and Lyon follows him, firing it down leg.
Salman bumps the fourth ball down the ground and takes one, giving Lyon two balls at Shaheen.
He digs the first one out. And defends the last.
65th over - Pat Cummins comes back again
He's short to Salman, who chases a hook shot and just misses out on a feather through to Carey.
Four! He gets some bat on this one and it races away fine.
And a French cut away for a single, so Cummins has his first look at Shaheen Shah Afridi.
He fends at a ball outside off stump as Cummins charges in around the wicket.
A big edge from a driving Shaheen squirts away to gully, but along the ground.
Shaheen makes it through.
64th over - Pakistan is 7-219. Australia has 30 minutes to take three wickets.
Nathan Lyon catches the outside edge of Salman, who jogs through for two runs as the ball sneaks past slip.
FOUR! Salman charges and tonks over the leg side. That will be his approach, even with boundary riders out there.
Salman steps to leg and slashes through cover to end the over, getting back for three. Maximum runs while farming the strike.
CUMMINS GETS ANOTHER!
Jamal is gone as he pops a short ball straight up and Cummins completes the catch.
It's supposed to be stumps in two minutes, but the umpires are asking if Australia wants the extra half-hour.
And they do.
63rd over - Aamir Jamal will be on strike to Pat Cummins
Jamal sways away from the bouncer to start.
Jamal defends a bouncer away to leg, but it drops straight in front of Marnus Labuschagne at short leg.
He's around the wicket to the right-hander. Short stuff incoming. Expect little else.
Or not. Back over the wicket to finish.
62nd over - Lyon continues
Salman attacks on the sweep. Both these batters can swing and hang around. This game is not over yet.
Salman dances down and bunts to mid-on for none.
He's leaving the crease early when he charges and Lyon's seeing him coming and darting balls in at him.
61st over (cont) - Aamir Jamal on strike
He's almost bowled! And almost trod on his stumps as he tries to kick the ball away … twice!
Drama at the MCG, and in the meantime, Pat Cummins has become the 10th man to take 250 Test wickets for Australia.
Pat Cummins gets his man after a long review!! Rizwan has to go!
Third umpire Richard Illingworth said the hot spot and the snicko did him in and called on umpire Michael Gough to reverse his decision.
Rizwan is fuming, but that's a fair call I reckon.
61st over - Cummins again
They need to get Rizwan before stumps. If he's batting in the morning I think Pakistan has this in the bag.
Rizwan ducks into a bouncer and there's a noise on the way through to Alex Carey. The Aussies go up, but it's denied.
Australia reviews, but there's a mark on Rizwan's forearm. I reckon that's the noise.
Oh but I think it's caught some of the sweatband on the glove, which would be out.
Rizwan's showing umpire Joel Wilson how high the mark is on his forearm.
It looks like there's a hot spot on the glove's wristband. The Aussies and Rizwan are having a chat as the replays are shown on the big screen.
That's definitely taken the wristband and forearm.
60th over - Lyon bowling to Rizwan with a spread field
Rizwan charges and tries to belt him down the ground, but he gets jammed up.
The next ball is bunted down the ground for a single, and that leaves Pakistan just 100 runs from victory.
Salman dances down, Lyon sees him coming and spears the ball at his pads.
Salman ends the over with a drive through wide mid-off and Cummins tracks it down for two runs.
The runs required are down to double digits.
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