In Melbourne, Australia defeated Pakistan in second Test to clinch series by 79 runs to secure the three-match Test series.
With today’s victory, Australia takes a 2-0 lead in the series.
Pakistan was dismissed for 237 in their second innings on Friday, chasing a target of 317 runs.
An angry Pat Cummins led Australia from the front and secured a thrilling victory with five wickets in the match. Additionally, the right arm won Player of the Match.
In the second innings, Mitchell Starc claimed four wickets as well.
The tourists had formed several partnerships to annoy the home team after bowling Australia out for 262 before lunchtime today.
With the aid of seven fours, Pakistan’s captain Shan Masood top-scored with an outstanding 60 runs in 71 balls.
Pakistan was on the edge of victory when Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman scored 57 runs for the sixth wicket. But to cross the finish line, Australia needed a quick succession of wickets following Rizwan’s contentious dismissal.
In the 61st over of Pakistan’s second innings, Cummins appealed for a caught behind, but the umpire ruled it not out. The Australian captain, however, made the decision to reconsider it because he believed Rizwan may have given it a glove.
The on-field umpire was asked to modify his ruling after the third umpire examined the appeal from several perspectives and concluded that the ball had passed the wristband due to a spike.
But at the last second, Rizwan turned his gaze away from the ball, so the hotspot was blank. Rizwan returned to the hut in complete disbelief, certain he had received nothing.
At the time of the incident, Pakistan was 98 runs from victory and Rizwan was batting on 35 runs.
Even though Agha Salman scored fifty, it was in vain.
Babar Azam appeared impressive for his 41-year-old, but Josh Hazlewood destroyed him just as he appeared ready for a major victory.
The 29-year-old is missing a good year; he has yet to score a Test fifty in 2023, especially in red-ball cricket. Azam did not score a single half-century in a calendar year for the first time since his debut.
Pakistan hasn’t played well in Australia, having won just one Test since 1995 and losing the last sixteen.
Sydney will host the third and final Test of the series starting on January 3.
