IT was interesting there for a while, but in the end Australia’s defeat in Dubai was inevitable.
#Pakistan finally got the last wicket with 22 overs remaining to win
the first Test by 221 runs. A draw, unlikely as it seemed, would have
been heroic but hardly a fair reflection of the five days of cricket
played here.
#Australia now has no hope of winning the series with the second and final match to be played in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
While
Mitchell Johnson had been at the crease there had been hope, but the
bowler’s casual defiance came to an edge when he was judged to be a
millimetre out of his crease by the third umpire in the last session.
Johnson was only the third Australian batsman, after David Warner and
Steve Smith, to pass 50 in the game. Seven Pakistanis achieved that
mark and more may have if they had not declared their second innings
closed.
Johnson was out stumped on 61 — the highest scorer in the innings — after 162 minutes and 127 balls. It was such a close thing the third umpire looked at replays for what seemed like an eternity before making a call.
Peter Siddle was out caught off his pad with the total on 221.
Zulfiqar Babar finished with 5-74 but was assisted in the victory by young leg spinner Yasir Shah who took 4-50 on debut.
#Australia went to the tea 8/196 and has a minimum of 29 overs to survive in the last session.
Steve Smith batted the best part of four hours for 55 before being beaten by the drift of Yasir Shah 30 minutes before tea.
Yet again he showed his partners how to handle spin, while Johnson’s stay will have the top order shifting uncomfortably in their seats. The bowler has been lucky on a couple of occasions but for the most part has looked confident and competent where few of those who are picked to bat had.
Johnson was out stumped on 61 — the highest scorer in the innings — after 162 minutes and 127 balls. It was such a close thing the third umpire looked at replays for what seemed like an eternity before making a call.
Peter Siddle was out caught off his pad with the total on 221.
Zulfiqar Babar finished with 5-74 but was assisted in the victory by young leg spinner Yasir Shah who took 4-50 on debut.
#Australia went to the tea 8/196 and has a minimum of 29 overs to survive in the last session.
Steve Smith batted the best part of four hours for 55 before being beaten by the drift of Yasir Shah 30 minutes before tea.
Yet again he showed his partners how to handle spin, while Johnson’s stay will have the top order shifting uncomfortably in their seats. The bowler has been lucky on a couple of occasions but for the most part has looked confident and competent where few of those who are picked to bat had.