Abbas strikes leave Australia with Herculean task to save Test
Mohammad Abbas struck three times in the space of seven balls to leave Australia with an uphill task of saving the first Test against Pakistan in Dubai.
Australia went to stumps on the fourth day on 136/3, still requiring another 326 to get to their 462-run target, with opener Usman Khawaja (50 not out) and Travis Head (34 not out) at the crease.
Just as they did in the first innings when they were bowled out for 202, the tourists’ opening pair of Khawaja and Aaron Finch gave them a great start with the bat.
The duo took their partnership to 87 when seamer Abbas trapped Finch lbw on 49.
The batsman reviewed the decision but it was upheld and the Aussies were one down.
Shaun Marsh only lasted just two balls before Abbas had the left-hander nicking off to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
After Khawaja played out a maiden from Wahab Riaz at the other end, Abbas needed just four balls to trap Mitchell Marsh (0) in front.
It was originally given not out but Sarfraz successfully reviewed as the Aussies lost three wickets for the addition of no runs with Abbas ending the day with figures of 3-26 to go with his four scalps in the first innings.
At that stage the touring team would have had nightmares from day three when they lost all ten of the wickets for just 60 runs after getting a 142-run start from the openers.
Khawaja and Head though saw Australia safely through to the close with the latter scoring his first runs in Test cricket after getting a duck in the first knock.
The partnership is currently on 49 but Pakistan know they only need one wicket to trigger a collapse on the fifth day and go 1-0 up in the two-match series.
Earlier, Pakistan batted until well into the second session of the day before declaring on 181/6.
Resuming on 45/3, left-arm spinner Jon Holland (3-83) took the scalp of Imam-ul-Haq (48) to add to his two wickets from late Tuesday evening.
Nathan Lyon (2-58) took the other two wickets to fall while Asad Shafiq (41), Haris Sohail (39) and Babar Azam (28 not out) were the other main contributors with the bat as Pakistan gave the Aussies 462 runs to win.
Latest
-
England
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.