Pakistan overcome recent Test Cricket history against Australia
Monday, July 26, 2010
The win by Pakistan ended arguably the bleakest period in test matches against a single opponent. A losing streak that lasted fifteen years, that included 13 test matches all against the Aussies.
Breaking a jinx as big and as harrowing as this was no mean task and it was certainly evident that the cobwebs had returned to haunt the Pakistanis. They lost four wickets after resuming their overnight position of immense strength of 140 for 3.
The batsman who played such a pivotal role in Pakistan’s comeback on day three Azhar Ali, reached his half-century with a drive off Bollinger. But unfortunately his celebrations were cut short next ball, as he was snapped up behind the stumps by Tim Paine with the score on 146, 34 runs away from the target.
The cat was set amongst the pigeons as Umar Akmal who had looked a bundle of nerves from the outset on day four, nicked a delivery from Ben Hilfenhaus straight into the hands of Tim Paine.
As Akmal prodded around for 8 runs, it became a little better with a crunching flick by Shoaib Malik as the target went under 20.
However, the Aussies were not giving up at all, as Shoaib Malik perished to a scintillating catch by Marcus North in the cover region off Ben Hilfenhaus.
At that stage Pakistan was 19 runs away, with four wickets in the kitty, Kamran Akmal than struck a brace of boundaries to bring the required runs to fewer than 10.
With 5 needed to win Kamran smashed a drive into the hands of Mike Hussey who claimed a catch, yet Kamran stood his ground indicating that the ball had touched the ground.
The adjudication went to the third umpire who ruled the wicket-keeper not out.
Left-armer Mohammad Aamer than steered the ball through the slip region to leave Pakistan within one run of breaking the 13 test match losing streak.
However, Pakistan being Pakistan lost Kamran Akmal to a stunner by Mike Hussey off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.
The match ended when Umar Gul smashed the next ball through the cover region to spark off wild celebrations in the Pakistan camp, as the players hugged each other and ran onto the field to embrace the two not out batsmen Gul and Aamer.
Mohammad Aamer was declared man of the match from Pakistan for his brilliant bowling display in the match, while Shane Watson won the Australian man of the match for his six wicket haul in the first innings of the match.
An elated Salman Butt who was leading Pakistan for the first time in a test match dedicated the historic triumph to the people of the country who have been deprived of watching test cricket, for that matter international cricket due to the ongoing security concerns in the terror ridden state.
The win brought smiles on the faces of millions of cricket fans across the country who had endured one defeat after another from the Australians who had a complete stranglehold on them.
It also augurs well for the Pakistan team as they look forward to the challenge of confronting the English team in a four match test series, that will be followed by five ODI’s and two T20 matches.
Sourch: blogs.bettor.com
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