Cricket Highlights, 16 Mar: PAK vs AUS (2nd Test – Day 5), WI vs ENG (2nd Test – Day 1)

The 5th day of the 2nd Test between Pakistan and Australia and the 1st day of the 2nd Test between West Indies and England rolled on the field yesterday. Continue reading the article to know the interesting happenings of the day’s games.

PAK vs AUS (2nd Test – Day 5)

The first Test match of the series between Pakistan and Australia was ended in a draw at Rawalpindi. The second Test between hosts Pakistan and visiting Australia brought the same results in Karachi. However, the Karachi Test was not as inanimate as Rawalpindi. Pakistan saved the Test by batting 172 overs for almost two days, the fourth and fifth day of the game.

Pakistan came down to bat for 506 runs-target given by Australia and scored 443 runs for 7 wickets. Australia needed 3 wickets to win in the last 8 overs of the last day. Mohammad Rizwan and Nauman Ali were at the wicket then. When the team’s run was 426 for 7, Usman Khawaja dropped Rizwan’s catch when he was on 91 runs. The result of the match could have been something else if the catch had been taken.

It was Rizwan and Nauman Ali, who spent the rest of the day safely for Pakistan. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 104 off 177 balls. Nauman Ali did not score a run but played 18 balls. Pakistan captain Babar Azam could not score a double century for 4 runs. However, he played an adventurous innings of 196 runs off 425 balls with the help of 1 six and 21 fours. As a result, Babar became the Player of the Match.

Nathan Lyon has taken the most number of 4 wickets for Australia. Captain Pat Cummins also took two wickets. With the first two Tests of the series being drawn, the third and final Test between the two sides has become a series-determining match. The third and final Test match between Pakistan and Australia will be played on March 21 in Lahore.

Scoreboard

Australia (1st Innings) – 556/9 (D) (189.0)

Pakistan (1st Innings) – 148/10 (53.0)

Australia (2nd Innings) – 97/2 (D) (22.3)

Pakistan (2nd Innings) – 443/7 (171.4)

Result – Match drawn

Player of the match – Babar Azam

WI vs ENG (2nd Test – Day 1)

The year 2021 has passed like a dream for England’s Test captain Joe Root. Where he scored 1708 runs at an average of 61 scoring six centuries and four fifties. He maintained that continuity even in 2022. He scored a back-to-back century against the West Indies.

He scored 109 runs in the second innings of the first match of the series in Antigua. This time he is unbeaten on 119 runs at the end of the first day in the first innings of the Barbados Test. England made 244 for 3 on the first day, thanks to the impeccable batting of the captain.

The England captain, Root won the toss and elected to bat first. Opener Zak Crawley made his way to the dressing room before starting to score in the fourth over of the innings. Later, in the second wicket, England captain made a partnership of 76 runs in 41.5 overs with Alex Lees.

Left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul dismissed Less, who was batting strongly. Lees, who scored 30 off 138 balls, fell into the trap of leg before while playing a delivery in the back foot. Then Root and Dan Lawrence put on 164 runs for the third wicket partnership.

At one point, Root picked up his 25th Test career century off 199 balls at one end of the wicket. However, Lawrence returned to the pavilion after playing a great innings of 91 off 150 balls after being caught off Jason Holder in the fifth ball of the last over of the day. Root is unbeaten on 119 off 246 balls.

Scoreboard

England (1st Innings) – 244/3 (89.5)