Pakistan show fight on Boxing day to curtail Australia.
BY RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
(eLanka Sports editor)
Pakistan showed better intent and threw down the gauntlet to Australia in a rain curtailed first day of the Boxing day Test in Melbourne.
Pakistan’s bowlers were on a mission as they bowled better lines and length to suffocate Australia’s free scoring batters, and on a rain shortened first day, Australia could only muster 185 for 3.
Winning an important toss and putting Australia in, appeared debatable at the outset, but turned out to be the correct one at the end of the day’s play.
The spirited display breathed new life into the series that seemed one-sided after the Perth mauling the Pakistanis were handed.
But the pitch at the MCG had plenty of assistance to Pakistan’s pretty fiery attack that tested Australia’s batters with sharp movement and bounce.
It shapes for a competitive second Test obviously depending on how Pakistan’s batting cope with a proven Australian attack.
The second day holds the key to what Australia can muster and if they get away to a massive total, Pakistan will find themselves behind the eight ball once more.
