Pakistan dig in after Aamer claims six wickets on debut

Agencies Published December 16, 2023

PERTH: Aamir Jamal (centre) is congratulated by his teammates after he cleaned up Australian batter Mitchell Starc, during the first Test, on Friday. Aamir had a Test debut to remember, rattling through Australia’s accomplished batting lineup to claim 6-111 and help dismiss the hosts for 487 in their first innings. Aamir had picked up two wickets on the first day and on the second, his pace seemingly rose with his newfound confidence as his delivery speeds approached 140kph. Pakistan reached 132-2 at stumps in their first innings, trailing Australia by 355 runs.—AFP

PAKISTAN opener Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot during the first Test against Australia at the Optus Stadium on Friday.—AFP

PERTH: Seamer Aamer Jamal bowled with pace and confidence on Friday to claim a six-wicket haul on his debut and help Pakistan bowl Australia out for 487 on day two of the first Test in Perth.

The visitors in their first innings reached 132-2 off 53 overs at stumps, trailing by 355, with a dogged Imam-ul-Haq not out 38 and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad on seven after they lost skipper Shan Masood late in the day.

But it was a slow grind after Aamer took six wickets for 111 in 20.2 overs to help dismiss the hosts in their first innings.

Mitchell Marsh starred with 90 after David Warner’s defiant 164 on day one.

“Probably would have liked to have a couple [more] wickets, but we’re happy with the score we got,” Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey said.

“We need to come back tomorrow and hit the right areas once again. We probably missed our lengths a bit, will have a chat tonight and come up better tomorrow.”

Opener Abdullah Shafique was the first to fall in reply, getting a big inside edge from Lyon to Warner at leg slip after battling to 42.

It was the veteran Lyon’s 497th Test wicket as the off-spinner closes in on 500 to join a group of just seven other players.

AUSTRALIAN batter Mitchell Marsh is cleaned up by Pakistan fast bowler Khurram Shahzad.—AFP

Left-handed Imam was stoic at the other end, weathering a fiery bowling blitz from Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins on a pitch that still had some zip.

It took him 85 deliveries before his first boundary, guiding one fine off his hip.

An aggressive Shan made 30 before his stay ended 10 minutes before close, caught behind by Carey off Starc on review.

Shan had earlier taken a nasty blow to the back when he turned to avoid an Imam drive but was able to continue after treatment.

The tourists kept in the hunt for a first Test win in Australia since 1995 by dismissing the hosts early in the second session, after the home side went to lunch at 476-7.

Marsh was bowled by paceman Khurram for 90 on the first ball back and the tail collapsed with impressive Aamer in the thick of the action.

“Quite satisfied the way the bowlers were able to fight back,” said Pakistan bowling coach Umar Gul. “I’m quite confident and quite happy with the performances, the way they brought us back from the first session on the first day.”

Gul added, “We were expecting from Aamer that he can bowl for us a long spell and good pace. I think he did his job and we are quite happy with him.”

Australia had resumed on 346-5 after dominating the opening day, with Warner hitting 164 to silence his critics.

Marsh began on 16 and Carey 15, with Pakistan desperate for an early breakthrough.

But the tourists struggled to make an impact on another scorching day, with some pedestrian bowling before Aamer was introduced.

Hometown hero Marsh, Australia’s T20 captain, smacked consecutive boundaries off the first over he faced from Khurram to set the tone.

Preferred to Cameron Green as the team’s all-rounder, Marsh brought up a 66-ball 50 — his fifth in 36 Tests — with a classy pull to the ropes and looked destined to reach three figures.

But Khurram shattered his hopes after lunch, knocking over his stumps as he attempted a big drive.

Aamer then quickly removed Cummins and Lyon, both caught by part-time spinner Salman Ali Agha.

He earlier trapped wicket-keeper/batsman Carey, who is eager to make runs to cement his Test spot after losing his place in Australia’s one-day team to Josh Inglis.

Carey survived a big lbw call from Shaheen Shah Afridi on the second ball of the day but had no answer to a lightning-quick Aamer delivery that rattled his off stump. Carey departed for 34, ending a dangerous 90-run partnership with Marsh.

Starc also fell victim to Aamer, getting an edge to another fast ball that removed the bails.

SCOREBOARD

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings, overnight 346-5):

D. Warner c Imam b Aamer 164

U. Khawaja c Sarfraz b Afridi 41

M. Labuschagne lbw Faheem 16

S. Smith c Sarfraz b Khurram 31

T. Head c Salman b Aamer 40

M. Marsh b Khurram 90

A. Carey b Aamer 34

M. Starc b Aamer 12

P. Cummins c Salman b Aamer 9

N. Lyon c Salman b Aamer 5

J. Hazlewood not out 4

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-17, NB-9, W-14) 41

TOTAL (all out; 113.2 overs) 487

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-126 (Khawaja), 2-159 (Labuschagne), 3-238 (Smith), 4-304 (Head), 5-321 (Warner), 6-411 (Carey), 7-449 (Starc), 8-476 (Marsh), 9-481 (Cummins)

BOWLING: Shaheen 27-7-96-1, Khurram 22-5-83-2, Aamer 20.2-1-111-6, Faheem 17-1-93-1, Salman 27-3-86-0

PAKISTAN (1st Innings):

Imam-ul-Haq not out 38

Abdullah Shafique c Warner b Lyon 42

Shan Masood c Carey b Starc 30

Khurram Shahzad not out 7

EXTRAS (B-8, LB-5, W-2) 15

TOTAL (for two wickets; 53 overs) 132

STILL TO BAT: Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfraz Ahmed, Agha Salman, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamer Jamal

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-74 (Abdullah), 2-123 (Shan)

BOWLING: Starc 12-2-24-1, Hazlewood 13-3-28-0, Cummins 10-4-12-0, Lyon 13-2-40-1, Marsh 4-0-12-0, Head 1-0-3-0.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2023