Cummins stars again as Pakistan collapse after promising start
Australia pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins helped the hosts recover to dismiss Pakistan for 240 on the opening day of the first Test in Brisbane.
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Pakistan – who have never won at the Gabba – coasted past lunch at 75 without loss before Cummins sparked a flurry of four wickets for only three runs.
FULL SCORECARD: Australia v Pakistan, first Test
Opener Shan Masood (27) edged Cummins to Steve Smith in the slips, with Josh Hazlewood then seeing Pakistan captain Azhar Ali (39) fall to a fine diving catch from Joe Burns.
Haris Sohail managed just one before he was caught behind off Starc, to leave the tourists reeling on 77 for three. Babar Azam faced only four balls, as he edged a full and wide delivery from Hazlewood to Burns.
Spinner Nathan Lyon removed Iftikhar Ahmed (seven), while after tea Mohammad Rizwan went for 37, caught behind off Cummins – although third umpire Michael Gough took several replays before deciding it was not a no-ball delivery.
Starc ended the resistance of Yasir Shah (26) and then had Shaheen Afridi out for a duck, before 16-year-old debutant Naseem Shah pushed an inside edge past the stumps to survive the hat-trick ball.
Asad Shafiq had at least steadied the innings somewhat with a stoic 76 before he was bowled by Cummins, who is playing a first home Test since taking over at the top of the world rankings.
Starc claimed a fourth wicket with Thursday’s final delivery when he caught-and-bowled Naseem for seven. Cummins finished with figures of three for 60.
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