BLOG: Second Test Australia vs Pakistan at the MCG – Day 5

TEA: PAKISTAN 5/91 trail Australia by 90 runs

Having talked about a weather affected draw for 4 days Australia is now in a winning position.  With 37 overs still remaining in this match five wickets have been taken inside the half way mark.  Nathan Lyon has taken 3 crucial wickets, Misbah and Younis falling within 3 balls of each other. It’s difficult to imagine but his cult status could further rise.

Pakistan superstar Azhar Ali is still at the crease and the tail is more than adequate but the momentum is with Australia.

 

 

LUNCH: AUSTRALIA 8/624 dec  PAKISTAN 1/5

A wicket before lunch has set up a possible result for this Test match. It’s remarkable considering across the first four days of inclement weather a total amount of four sessions have been lost.

Another brilliant innings by Steve Smith pushed his calender year total past 1000 Test for the third consecutive year. When the declaration came he was on an unbeaten 165 .  A record 7 sixes (in a Test at the MCG) contributed to Starc’s thrilling innings of 84.  Promoted up the order Lyon held on long enough with Smith to get the lead to 181 before losing his wicket and bringing on the close of innings.  

Josh Hazlewood’s consistent line and length over the summer was rewarded early as Sami played on, dismissed for 2.

The sun is shining, the ball is new and against a team renown for collapses the Australians have given themselves the best chance.

At lunch Tom Moody and Dean Jones are bullish about Australia’s fortunes

 

Click here for all of the action from the first day 4.