Australia humbled for 88 by inspired Pakistan
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Headingley has a history of producing the dramatic and another extraordinary chapter was written as Australia were blown away for a paltry 88 by an inspired Pakistan pace attack after Ricky Ponting had decided to bat first, according to website cricinfo.
Mohammad Aamer began the collapse before later finding himself on a hat-trick and Mohammad Asif was lethal with his late swing. Umar Gul claimed two key middle-order scalps and, most surprisingly, Umar Amin's medium pace even earned a first Test wicket.
It was brave call from Ponting at the toss after torrential overnight rain, and a distinctly overcast start to the morning, but it backfired in startling fashion with Australia's seventh lowest first-innings total in their history. Headingley is another venue where overhead conditions are as important as the surface and Pakistan's frontline pace trio were often unplayable as they made the ball move late off the seam.
In scenes reminiscent of the days of Wasim and Waqar, the bowlers didn't need much help from the fielders with seven wickets either bowled or lbw as Australia failed to combat Pakistan's full length. Kamran Akmal, though, played his part shortly before lunch when he gloved an excellent catch to remove Marcus North as Amin's introduction proved a masterstroke from new captain Salman Butt. Amin had only six first-class wickets to his name, but his gentle medium-pace found North's outside edge and the dismissal summed up the early fortunes of both teams.
Australia 1st innings:
SR Watson lbw b Mohammad Asif 5
SM Katich lbw b Mohammad Aamer 13
RT Ponting lbw b Mohammad Asif 6
MJ Clarke b Umar Gul 3
MEK Hussey lbw b Umar Gul 5
MJ North c Kamran b Umar Amin 16
TD Paine c Kamran b Asif 17
SPD Smith b Mohammad Aamer 10
MG Johnson b Mohammad Aamer 0
BW Hilfenhaus run out 3
DE Bollinger not out 2
Extras: (lb 6, nb 2) 8
Total: (all out; 33.1 overs) 88
Pakistan 1st innings
Imran Farhat not out 14
Salman Butt not out 21
Extras: (b 2, lb 3, nb 1) 6
Total: (0 wickets; 9.5 overs) 41
Mohammad Aamer began the collapse before later finding himself on a hat-trick and Mohammad Asif was lethal with his late swing. Umar Gul claimed two key middle-order scalps and, most surprisingly, Umar Amin's medium pace even earned a first Test wicket.
It was brave call from Ponting at the toss after torrential overnight rain, and a distinctly overcast start to the morning, but it backfired in startling fashion with Australia's seventh lowest first-innings total in their history. Headingley is another venue where overhead conditions are as important as the surface and Pakistan's frontline pace trio were often unplayable as they made the ball move late off the seam.
In scenes reminiscent of the days of Wasim and Waqar, the bowlers didn't need much help from the fielders with seven wickets either bowled or lbw as Australia failed to combat Pakistan's full length. Kamran Akmal, though, played his part shortly before lunch when he gloved an excellent catch to remove Marcus North as Amin's introduction proved a masterstroke from new captain Salman Butt. Amin had only six first-class wickets to his name, but his gentle medium-pace found North's outside edge and the dismissal summed up the early fortunes of both teams.
Australia 1st innings:
SR Watson lbw b Mohammad Asif 5
SM Katich lbw b Mohammad Aamer 13
RT Ponting lbw b Mohammad Asif 6
MJ Clarke b Umar Gul 3
MEK Hussey lbw b Umar Gul 5
MJ North c Kamran b Umar Amin 16
TD Paine c Kamran b Asif 17
SPD Smith b Mohammad Aamer 10
MG Johnson b Mohammad Aamer 0
BW Hilfenhaus run out 3
DE Bollinger not out 2
Extras: (lb 6, nb 2) 8
Total: (all out; 33.1 overs) 88
Pakistan 1st innings
Imran Farhat not out 14
Salman Butt not out 21
Extras: (b 2, lb 3, nb 1) 6
Total: (0 wickets; 9.5 overs) 41