Cummins and Starc dash Pakistan hopes of Test win at the MCG

Australia's fast pace duo of Pat Cummins 5/49 and Mitchell Starc 4/55 dashed Pakistan's hopes of an historic win at the MCG today.

A fired-up Cummins bagged five wickets and 10 in the match to earn Australia a nail-biting 79-run win in the second Test and clinch the series against a battling Pakistan.

Match Day Analysis

Opener Abdullah Shafique departed for four during a tricky session before lunch, caught by Usman Khawaja in the slips off Mitchell Starc following a period of intense pressure.

Iman-ul-Haq survived the initial blitz, but was no match after the break for Cummins, who sent down a probing ball that nipped back and trapped him lbw for 12.

Masood was given out by the umpire for lbw on 12, but it was overturned on review and he quickly got back in his stride, with a majestic drive through the covers for four off Nathan Lyon.

He took a nasty ball to the ribs that needed treatment, but was undeterred and raced to a gutsy 50 before Cummins again came to Australia's rescue with his seventh wicket of the match thus far.

Despite a fighting half century from Agha Salman and a stubborn 35 from Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan were unable to resist the dynamic duo of Cummins and Starc who mopped up the tail.

Earlier

Earlier, Alex Carey slammed 53 to help Australia build their overnight lead and quieten chatter about his form after losing his place in the one-day side to Josh Inglis.

He resumed on 16 after Australia had bounced back from 16-4 thanks to an attacking 96 from Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith's gutsy 50.

Carey, who made his first and only Test hundred in Melbourne a year ago, hit consecutive fours in his first over from Hasan Ali to build confidence.

At the other end, Starc lived dangerously and fell for nine with the impressive Afridi getting the breakthrough on a pitch still offering a bit for the bowlers.

Azam took the sharp chance at slip after Starc miscued a drive.

Cummins made a breezy 16 but was caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan off Aamer Jamal, while Lyon crunched two straight fours off Jamal, then was bowled for 11 three deliveries later.

Carey brought up his sixth Test half-century before being the last man out, lbw to Hamza.

The highest-ever successful fourth innings run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was 332-7 by England in 1928, with scores over 300 rare.

The Pakistanis padded up after the hosts were all out in their second innings for 262, after resuming on 187-6.

Mir Hamza was the best of the bowlers with 4-32, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took 4-76.

Match Summary

Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd Test, Pakistan tour of Australia

Australia 318/10 (96.5 ov) & 262/10 (84.1 ov)

Pakistan 264/10 (73.5 ov) & 237/10 (67.2 ov)

Result - Australia won by 79 runs          

Match Stats

Australia 1st Innings Fall of wickets:  1-90 (David Warner - 27.1 ov), 2-108 (Usman Khawaja - 33.1 ov), 3-154 (Steven Smith - 57.5 ov), 4-204 (Travis Head - 70.2 ov), 5-250 (Marnus Labuschagne - 79.5 ov), 6-260 (Alex Carey - 82.2 ov), 7-275 (Mitchell Starc - 85.5 ov), 8-286 (Mitchell Marsh - 89.1 ov), 9-308 (Pat Cummins - 95.1 ov), 10-318 (Nathan Lyon - 96.5 ov)

Pakistan 1st Innings Fall of wickets: 1-34 (Imam ul Haq - 15.4 ov), 2-124 (Abdullah Shafique - 34.6 ov), 3-131 (Babar Azam - 36.3 ov), 4-147 (Shan Masood - 41.5 ov), 5-151 (Saud Shakeel - 44.4 ov), 6-170 (Agha Salman - 47.6 ov), 7-215 (Mohammad Rizwan - 62.1 ov), 8-240 (Shaheen Afridi - 69.2 ov), 9-255 (Hasan Ali - 72.5 ov), 10-264 (Mir Hamza - 73.5 ov)

Australia 2nd Innings Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Usman Khawaja - 0.2 ov), 2-6 (Marnus Labuschagne - 2.6 ov), 3-16 (David Warner - 5.1 ov), 4-16 (Travis Head - 5.2 ov), 5-169 (Mitchell Marsh - 49.5 ov), 6-187 (Steven Smith - 62.3 ov), 7-209 (Mitchell Starc - 68.5 ov), 8-237 (Pat Cummins - 76.3 ov), 9-249 (Nathan Lyon - 78.6 ov), 10-262 (Alex Carey - 84.1 ov)

Pakistan Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Abdullah Shafique - 4.1 ov), 2-49 (Imam ul Haq - 14.3 ov), 3-110 (Shan Masood - 26.3 ov), 4-146 (Babar Azam - 40.1 ov), 5-162 (Saud Shakeel - 45.6 ov), 6-219 (Mohammad Rizwan - 60.4 ov), 7-219 (Aamer Jamal - 62.6 ov), 8-237 (Shaheen Afridi - 66.4 ov), 9-237 (Agha Salman - 67.1 ov), 10-237 (Mir Hamza - 67.2 ov)

Match Details:

Date: Monday, December 25, 2023 23:30

Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne

Toss: Pakistan elected to bowl