In a gripping display of cricket, Australia’s Pat Cummins showcased his prowess with a devastating delivery that shattered Pakistan’s hopes of a strong start on Day 2 of the second Test match in Melbourne. Cummins’ delivery found the stumps of Pakistan’s former skipper Babar Azam, who departed for a mere 1 run, leaving his team reeling at a critical juncture in the game.
Pakistan’s top-order had shown resilience against Australia’s formidable bowling attack, with Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood leading the charge with impressive half-centuries. However, Babar Azam’s failure to capitalize on the platform set by his teammates has once again raised concerns about his recent form, especially since the Cricket World Cup 2023.
Pat Cummins reaction to the magical delivery
Pat Cummins reacted to the delivery that bowled the star batter. He called it as a dream ball saying that he didn’t know whether the ball would come in to the batter or leave him.
“It’s a dream ball. It’s what you try most balls, but it’s rare that it comes off,” Cummins said after play. “That wasn’t a deliberate ball to seam in. That’s 50-50 that it’s going to seam in or out. Try and create a bit of an angle and if I don’t know what it’s doing, hopefully the batter doesn’t know either.”
With the burden of captaincy lifted off his shoulders, Babar was expected to play with more freedom, but his struggle for form has continued, particularly on the Australian tour. Cummins’ delivery, a ball that came back in sharply with a huge bat pad gap, left Babar visibly stunned as he lost his off stump and walked back to the pavilion, unable to make an impact.
Despite Babar’s early departure, Pakistan fought back valiantly in the second session, with Abdullah Shafique leading the charge in their pursuit of Australia’s first innings total of 318 runs. The young opener displayed composure and determination, standing tall against Australia’s relentless bowling attack.
In response, Australia’s Nathan Lyon posed a significant threat with his spin, nearly claiming Shafique’s wicket on 16, only to be denied by the umpire’s decision. However, Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins continued to lead from the front, maintaining pressure on the Pakistani batsmen.
Earlier in the match, Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne had anchored the innings with a solid 44 off 120 balls, after early dismissals of David Warner, Usman Khawaja, and Steve Smith. Khawaja continued his fine form on Day 2, contributing 63 runs off 155 balls, while Mitchell Marsh added 41 runs off 60 balls as Australia crossed the 300-run mark in their first innings.
As the match progresses, both teams will be looking to gain the upper hand, with Pakistan aiming for a historic Test win in Australia since 1995, while Australia seeks to maintain their dominance on home soil.
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