Australia have survived day 4 and are 4/143 at stumps in the Second Test at Abu Dhabi. Steve Smith (38) and Mitchell Marsh (26) lead the resistance for Australia as they look to avoid a crushing defeat to Pakistan.
The task has been made epic through outstanding performances by captain Misbah ul-Haq, who led from the front with the fastest fifty-runs and the equal-fastest hundred recorded in test match cricket history.
Misbah cracked 50 runs from 21 balls in 23 minutes surpassing Jacques Kallis’ previous record of 24 balls.
Hanging around while batting partner Ali built up to his own century, ul-Haq raced ahead towards another milestone, needing only 8-runs from 2 balls to equal Sir Viv Richards record of 100 runs from 56 balls.
The Pakistan captain achieved the record after hitting consecutive boundaries over mid-on and edging down to third-man in an historic and impressively confident display of free-hitting.
Only a few balls later, Ali had his century. This was his second century in the test match and an effort eclipsed only by the performances of his team mates throughout the short series.
The century coming from 174 balls was not without luck as Ali was dropped at point by Phil Hughes on 68. It did herald the end of the innings for Pakistan as Misbah called his team-mate off the field, declaring 602 runs ahead.
The Australian bowlers struggled against a confident batting line-up. Pacemen Johnson (2/45), Siddle (0/48) and Starc (0/56) got little out of the track on day 4 and were tormented out of holding their lines by the virtuoso batting displays of Khan, Ali and ul-Haq.
Steve Smith bowled bravely, tossing the ball up. He was rewarded with Younis Khan’s wicket, trapping the star LBW on 46. Khan left the crease for the final time in the series after amassing an incredible 468 runs at an average of 156 with scores of 106, 103 and 216 in his previous innings.
Being set 602 for victory, the Aussies were playing a game of survival. Chris Rogers was showing signs of suffering from the heat and possible illness, receiving electrolytes and water in the middle. His wicket evaporated minutes later, caught by the leg slip after the faintest of edges off the bowling of Zulfiqar Babar.
Zulfiqar had 2-12 from four overs after removing the new batsman, Glenn Maxwell, soon after Rogers. Maxwell again struggled to play a controlled innings at number three, launching reverse sweeps and striding down the wicket from the outset of his innings.
His lack of patience was exposed by some good spin bowling as he was caught backing onto his stumps, trapped LBW for a poultry 4 runs.
Michael Clarke lost his middle stump again after the lunch break, as Babar claimed his third wicket of the innings. The Australian captain played some confident defensive shots displaying good footwork, but some equally ‘ugly’ shots, stuck at the crease where he simply dabbed is bat aimlessly at the ball.
Babar ripped through one of Clarke’s loose shots and his team erupted with giggling acclaim at the prized wicket of a player who is renowned for his batting against spin-bowling.
The wickets were tumbling around David Warner, who looked confident and settled after reaching his half-century. Playing with his usual flamboyant brand of hard-hitting, Warner continued to swing at the ball and skied a poke-sweep to the leg side off the bowling of Mohammad Hafeez for 58.
Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh offered the only glimpse of consistent, patient batting so far in Australia’s second innings. Putting on an unbeaten partnership of 42, the pair will be hoping to continue for as long as possible on day 5.
