Australia v Pakistan 2023-24: Boxing Day Test – Day 4: Great win to the Aussies

 

 

DAY 4 AT THE G

 

Lo0ks like we are heading for another great day of Test cricket at the G.  Australia still favoured to win but the visitors are not giving in easily.

 

So far they have put up the good fight and then wilted but in this game they are continuig the fight.  2 wickets in the first  hour Starc (9) and Cummins (16) has kept them in touch but they still have to make over 300 runs to win.

 

At this point in time (hate that sentence!) the Oz lead is 291.

 

Carey has hit himself back into form and has been very fluid with his strokes this morning.  The critics should go back to sleep again over this one.  Lyon (11) clean bowled and only 1 wicket to go before Pakistan bat again.

 

The wicket may have played a little slow and the outfield slower than normal but there are no complaints from me as it has been even for both sides.

 

Carey is farming the strike and Hazelwood is doing his bit at the other end.  Carey reaches his good 50 but departs soon after for 53.  Australia all out for 262 and Pakistan need to make 317 to take the game. Afridi and Hamza both take 4 wickets and Jamal 2.

 

Pakistan are in no hurry to get the runs with 5 and a bit sessions to go. They are treating Hazelwood and Starc with great respect in the early overs.  Doesn’t last long as Shafique tries to drive Starc for Uzzie to take at third slip.

 

Pakistan go to lunch at 1/25 and there is still a long way to go.  Masood on 12 survives a scare when he is given out lbw in Lyon’s first over.  He reviewed the decision and on the screen it still looked out. DRS can’t be wrong can it?  Leave it up to you.

 

Cricket has come a long way in my time, which is a long time anyway.  Once upon a time (in my day) a return from the boundary was greeted with tumultuos applause. Nowadays it is taken for granted. Just for the over 50’s out there remember Neil Harvey, Colin Bland, Paul Sheahan, Jonty Rhodes and Derek Randall.  They were lauded for their fielding. Today’s equivalent would be Marnus and Davvie but they don’t get the accolades they deserve.

 

Imam,  twice in 3 balls goes lbw. DRS 1 overturned,  DRS 2 out (exactly the same ball on both occasions. Pakistan 2/49.

 

Babar the great hope drives beautifully to open his account.  Australia will be keen to keep him to his low scores so far this series. A decision against him goes DRS and he survives by the shine of the bail.

 

It is a superb day for cricket today and the crowd are soaking it up. Who woukld want to be anywhere else on a day like this?

 

Bit worried about the running betwee wickets of these two batters. A lot of hesitation that could lead to a runout if they are not careful.

 

Full of confidence nw the batters are starting to play their shots.  Shan Masood’s 50 comes up from 57 balls. He has played 2 fine innings in this Test match but needs to go further now. Despite his poor batting average (28.1) he does have 4 test centuries to his credit. It doesn’t happen as on 60 Captin’ Pat moves one slightly away he gets the edge and Smith makes it look simple at second slip.  Pakistan 3/110. They are a third of the way there but need a big partnership here between Babar (looking at ease) and Shakeel.

 

A great battle going on out there in the middle.  As mentioned earlier time is on Pakistan’s side  with still four sessions to play so no rash shots or suicidal runs.

 

At tea the score is 3/129 so honours about even in that session. Babar on 35 holds the keys to the kingdom.

 

Josh Hazelwood bowls the ball of the Test when he gets one to cut back inside Babar’s bat to bowl him.  It was a ripper that most batters would probably miss.  Babar 41 and Pakistan now 4/146  with 171 runs now required for them to win the game.

 

Rizwan is a believer in attacking and he clouts Lyon for six soon after he comes to the wicket. Perhaps he believes that attacking the bowling is the only way to win the game and the cautious approach is not carrying his team closer to the target.

 

After a dogged knock for 24 Shakeel plays a very poor shot to a bouncer fromm Starc and Carey takes a mark. Rizwan will have to do the work by himself now as the tail is a bit shaky and they still need 153 runs.

 

Looking at the partnerships throughout the innings all bar the first wicket have got started but this OZ Attack is very formidable and they never give their opponents much breathing space or time to take control.

 

This is why we love Test match cricket so much. Neither side giving an inch and the spectators absorbing every ball like it is the last.

 

Today’s attendance of 18,029 takes the overall attendance to over 160,000.  Well done, as usual, Victoria the sporting capital of Australia.

 

Salman is making a liar out of me as he plays two fine shots for boundaries against the ever dangerous Lyon. Lyon has 0/69 at this stage.

 

This is good cricket as both batters are now attacking Lyon and keeping at bay the fasties.  They have now put on just over 50 runs.

 

The most controversial decision of the day, and the match, is when Rizwan on 35 is given out by the DRS when a ball from Cummins hits his forearm and according to review then hits the back of his bat for Carey to take.  By the amount of time that elapses surely the batter should be given the benefit of doubt his way?  Rizwan can consider himself extremely unlucky in this situation. Pakistan 6/219.

 

Disaster as Jamal cannot handle a bouncer from Cummins and the bowler takes an easy catch.

 

Cap’in Pat has the fine figures of 4/43 to go with his five fer in the first dig.

 

Salman is not going down with the ship and he starts flaying firstly Lyon and then Cummins and he takes 16 from two overs.

 

Afridi(0) gets the same ball as Jamal and he popsan easy catch to Marnus at silly-leg and Cummins has 5 wickets for the second time in this match. Also the second occasion which has taken 10 wickets in a Test match.

 

Starc comes on and first ball he has Salman hooking for Mitch Marsh to take a sensational catch diving forward.  All of a sudden the game is is over as another sensational catch next ball  by SPD and it really is all over. Australia win by 79 runs.  Cummins 5/49 and Starc (now on a hat-trick) 4/55.

 

Another win for Test cricket although Australia had the upper hand throughout but pakistan were valiant in defeat and a little bit of luck going their way might have turned the tables. That is Test cricket full of ebb and flow.

 

You can read Bob’s reports from Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3 Here

 

 

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