(Cricket news) Pat Cummins led the way for Australia, as the pacers rattle Pakistan’s top-order with a brilliant bowling display in the first session of the 3rd Test in Sydney.
The visitors opted to bat first on a sunny morning at the SCG after their shocking decision to leave out Shaheen Afridi. The start for Pakistan was exactly opposite of what they would have wished for. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood struck with their second deliveries of the morning and Cummins dismissed Babar Azam in his second over to add salt to wound for Pakistan.
The Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique paid the price for attempting a reckless shot as Starc forced him into an expansive drive on the 2nd ball of the innings. On debut Saim Ayub failed to deliver as Hazlewood got him caught behind off a good length ball that nipped away a bit to take the edge.
Pat Cummins used DRS to good effect after being denied the LBW appeal as he struck the former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s pads with a full ball that swung in sharply who till then looked comfortable playing some elegant drives during his stay at the crease. The Australian skipper then got Saud Shakeel off a length ball that held its line outside off, adding to Pakistan’s woes and reducing them to 47/4 shortly after drinks.
The Pakistani skipper Shan Masood then built up an effective partnership with Rizwan to prevent any further damage in the opening session of the SCG test. He survived a close LBW call from Starc but managed to safely take Pakistan to Lunch at 75/4, adding 28 valuable for Pakistan for the 5th wicket with Moahmmad Rizwan.
