Abbas destroys Australia with five-for to put Pakistan in control

ABU DHABI: Seamer Mohammad Abbas destroyed Australia with a five-wicket haul to steer Pakistan into a dominating position in the second and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Abbas finished with five for 33 — the 28-year-old’s best figures in his brief Test career — to bowl out Australia for a paltry 145 to give Pakistan a 137-run lead in the first innings on the second day at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Pakistan stretched that lead to 281 as they were 144 for two at close, with Azhar Ali not out on 54 in a welcome return to form with his first half century in the series and Haris Sohail was 17 not out.

With eight wickets in hand Pakistan were in a great position to force a 1-0 lead in the two-match series after the first Test ended in an enthralling draw in Dubai last week.

Azhar, who fell for disappointing scores of 18, four and 15 in the last three innings, batted with resolve, having so far hit three boundaries.

But it was once again debutant Fakhar Zaman who lifted Pakistan with a brilliant 66 following up his 94 in the first innings, before giving a stunning return catch to Nathan Lyon who took an evasive action but still managed to hold onto the ball.

Fakhar, who adorned his enterprising knock with seven boundaries, said Pakistan were in the driving seat.

“Yes, our position is extremely good,” the flamboyant left-handed opener told a press conference. “If we score another 100-150 runs more on Thursday then with a turning wicket we have a very good chance of winning this Test.”

Fakhar said he was lucky to have played this Test.

“I was with the squad from the start but during the first Test I was about to return to Pakistan before, unfortunately, Imam-ul-Haq got injured and I got this chance of playing my first Test.”

Mohammad Hafeez, who scored a hundred in the drawn first Test, fell to a lazy shot off left-arm quickie Mitchell Starc, caught at short mid-off for six on his 38th birthday.

Earlier, Abbas and off-spinner Bilal Asif (3-23) wrecked Australia for 145 in their innings.

Abbas had the out-of-form Shaun Marsh, in the fourth over of the day, for three and Travis Head for 14 before wrapping up the innings by trapping Starc leg-before for 34.

This becomes Abbas’s third five-wicket haul in a burgeoning career of just 10 Tests.

Bilal had removed Aaron Finch (39) via a fine catch by Fakhar at short leg and in the last over before lunch trapped Australian captain Tim Paine leg-before for three.

Marnus Labuschagne offered some resistance during his 25 before falling to a freakish run out, backing up too far as a drive from Starc was deflected to the stumps by Yasir Shah with Labuschagne lethargically out of his crease.

Abbas, whose first wicket of the match made him the joint second fastest Pakistani to 50 wickets, gave Pakistan an early wicket in the fourth over of the day, removing the left-handed Shaun Marsh with a good catch at first slip to Haris.

He then had Head caught in the second slip by Asad Shafiq to leave Australia in serious problems at 56 for four.

Leg-spinner Yasir made it 75 for five with the wicket of Mitchell Marsh, splendidly held at slip by Asad for 13 before Australia lose two more to reach lunch at 91 for seven.

After the Tests both the teams will play a series of three Twenty20 Internationals with the first in Abu Dhabi next Wednesday (Oct 24).

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN (1st innings) 282 (Fakhar Zaman 94, Sarfraz Ahmed 94; N.M. Lyon 4-78, M. Labuschagne 3-45).

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings, overnight 20-2):

U.T. Khawaja c Sarfraz b Abbas 3

A.J. Finch c Fakhar b Bilal 39

P.M. Siddle lbw b Abbas 4

S.E. Marsh c Haris b Abbas 3

T.M. Head c Asad b Abbas 14

M.R. Marsh c Asad b Yasir 13

M. Labuschagne run out 25

T.D. Paine lbw b Bilal 3