Pakistan

(Reuters) - Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas ripped through the top of the Australian batting order as the visitors slumped to 91 for seven at lunch on day two of the second and final test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Resuming on 20-2, Australian batsman Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh struggled to cope with the moving ball as Pakistan pacemen Abbas and Mir Hamza choked the scoring rate in the opening hour. Abbas, who removed in-form opener Usman Khawaja and nightwatchman Peter Siddle on the opening day, soon grabbed his third wicket when he dismissed a hesitant Marsh for three after he edged a delivery to Haris Sohail at first slip. The 28-year-old right-arm quick then tested Finch with some sharp inswingers but it was his partner Travis Head (14) who cracked under pressure, gifting a comfortable catch to Asad Shafiq in the slip cordon to leave Australia reeling at 56-4. Mitchell Marsh arrived to the crease with a positive mindset and added 13 runs before he edged a sharp leg-spinner from … [Read more...] about Pakistan take control after Abbas annihilates Australia

(Reuters) - Australia off spinner Nathan Lyon took four wickets in six balls to leave Pakistan reeling on 77 for five at lunch on the opening day of the second and final test in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The tourists had made an early breakthrough courtesy of a freakish catch but it was Lyon's destructive spell in the half an hour before the break that really put Pakistan on the back foot after they had advanced to 57-1. Azhar Ali (15) and Haris Sohail (0) were removed on consecutive deliveries to conclude one over and although Asad Shafiq fended off the hat-trick ball when Lyon returned, he too went for a duck on the next ball after a DRS review. The fourth wicket, just two balls later, was the pick of the quartet, with Babar Azam bowled for nought after wafting an ill-advised shot at a perfectly-pitched delivery to leave Pakistan teetering on 57-5. The hosts, forced to settle for a draw in the first test in Dubai after a desperate rearguard action from the Australians, won the toss and … [Read more...] about Lyon wreaks havoc to rock Pakistan in Abu Dhabi

(Reuters) - Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and elected to bat first in the second and final test against Australia in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Pakistan named two debutants in Fakhar Zaman, who replaces the injured opening batsman Imam-ul-Haq, and left-arm seamer Mir Hamza, who comes in for Wahab Riaz after the paceman went wicketless in the drawn first test in Dubai. Tim Paine's Australia, bidding to win their first series in Asia since 2011, are unchanged from Dubai. Teams: Pakistan - Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mir Hamza, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah. Australia - Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschangne, Tim Paine (captain), Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by John O'Brien) … [Read more...] about Pakistan opt to bat in second test v Australia