Daily Times

In the Melbourne Test on Wednesday, Pakistan staged a remarkable comeback, claiming seven wickets in the morning session to dismiss Australia for 318 at lunch.

Aamer Jamal played a pivotal role with figures of 3-64 as Pakistan dominated the second morning, removing Travis Head (17), Marnus Labuschagne (63), Alex Carey (four), Mitchell Starc (nine), Mitchell Marsh (41), Pat Cummins (13), and Nathan Lyon (eight).

Australia, resuming at 187-3 after a rain-interrupted opening day, faced challenging conditions for seam bowling. Labuschagne, however, stood firm overnight, reaching 44 off 120 balls.

Labuschagne, accompanied by Head, signaled Australia’s intent with aggressive strokes, but Head’s attacking approach led to his downfall, edging a wide delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi to the slips.

Labuschagne continued his resilient innings, achieving his 17th Test half-century. Marsh survived two close calls in a fiery over but eventually fell to Aamer Jamal. Carey and Starc followed suit, and Pakistan capitalized with the new ball.

Despite a spirited response from Marsh, Jamal crucially dismissed Labuschagne, and subsequent breakthroughs saw Carey and Starc departing swiftly. As Mir Hamza claimed Marsh’s wicket, the Australian tail collapsed.

Having won the first Test in Perth by 360 runs, Australia faced a resilient Pakistani side in the ongoing three-match series.