Australia overcame an early wicket loss and increased their lead to 161 runs at the end of the second session of day three of the second Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday thanks to a counterattacking half-century by Mitchell Marsh and his partnership with Steve Smith. Australia was 107/4 at Tea, with Steve Smith (26) and Marsh (57) undefeated. Beginning this session on 6/2, Mir Hamza removed David Warner (1*) and Travis Head for six and zero, respectively. Down to 16/4 was Australia. Smith then teamed up with Marsh. In the 14th over, Marsh quickly launched a counterattack, hitting Aamer Jamal for three fours to restore some pressure on the bowlers.
In 15.2 overs, Australia reached 50 runs when Marsh hit Jamal for their fourth boundary. Smith assisted Marsh in expressing himself by acting as the anchor on the other end. In 87 balls, the pair reached a 50-run stand. Marsh attacked Pakistan’s top pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi, in later overs, hitting him for several boundaries. With eight fours in 70 balls, the all-rounder scored his third consecutive fifty of the series. Australia reached the 100-run mark in 28.4 overs. Australia ended the session without losing a wicket thanks to the pair.
On the first session of day three of the second Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Thursday, Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered two crucial blows to rock the hosts. Earlier, a five-wicket haul by captain Pat Cummins put Australia in a commanding position before the visitors clawed their way into the contest. Pakistan began the day at 194/6, with Aamer Jamal (2) and Mohammed Rizwan (29) undefeated. In 56.2 overs, Pakistan reached the 200-run milestone. Australia’s first wicket of the session came from captain Cummins, who dismissed Rizwan for 42 off 51 balls. Pakistan scored 215/7.
Pakistan nearly reached the 250-run mark thanks to a strong 25-run partnership between Shaheen and Jamal, two lower middle order batsmen.
With Lyon capturing Shaheen leg before wicket for 21, Pakistan was reduced to 240/8. Pakistan needed 71 overs to reach the 250-run threshold. Mir Hamza (2) was removed by Lyon, and Cummins removed Hasan Ali (2) to record his 10th Test five-wicket haul. Pakistan trailed by 54 runs at the end of their innings, scoring 264/10 in 73.5 overs. Australia’s best bowler was Cummins (5/48) and Lyon (4/73 in 18.5 overs). Josh Hazlewood secured one wicket as well. Australia got off to a poor start in their second innings when Shaheen removed Usman Khawaja (0) and Marnus Labuschagne (4), bringing Australia down to 6/2. Quick Scores: Australia leads Pakistan with 318 and 107/4 (Mitchell Marsh 57, Steve Smith 26, and Mir Hamza 2/13): 264 (Abdullah Shafique 62, Shan Masood 54, Pat Cummins 5/48) by 60 runs.
