ABU DHABI - Pakistan completed their historic series victory over Australia with an emphatic win on the last day of the second Test at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium Monday.
When Azhar Ali took a glorious catch of Nathan Lyon at silly point on the bowling off left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar it was the signal of the comprehensive series win over Australians after 20 years and first for Pakistan since winning 3-0 against England, the then number one ranked team, in 2012. It was also the first time since 1982 that Pakistan inflicted a series whitewash on the Australians.
Pakistan’s dominance over Australians could be noticed from the fact that Pakistan batsmen hit nine hundreds in Two Test series, the most hundreds scored by any team during a two match series. No other team has ever scored more than six hundreds in a two match series against a top-eight team.
The series has seen many records so far created by Pakistan batsmen and the second Test also ended with more records as Pakistan registered their 356 runs victory, biggest win in Tests by runs margin. Pakistan’s previous record was of341 runs victory against India in Karachi in 2006. The defeat was Australia’s third worst in all Test cricket behind their 675 run loss against England in Brisbane in 1928 and by 408 against the West Indies at Adelaide in 1980.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq, who was also given the man of the match award for his twin tons in the Test including a swashbuckling 100 on 56 balls to equal world record, has also equaled the Pakistani record for the most Test wins as captain. Imran Khan and Javed Miandad also have won 14 Tests as captains. However, Misbah has only captained Pakistan in 31 Tests, while Miandad and Imran led in 34 and 48, respectively. With 2-0 whitewash, Pakistan have also leapfrogged England, Sri Lanka and India into third place in the ICC Test rankings behind South Africa and Australia. Younus Khan was named man of the series for his 468 runs in two Tests.
Pakistan bowlers continued their domination over Australian batsmen in the last day to despite a resistance offered to them by Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh before lunch as the pair added 107 runs for the fifth wicket. Marsh, playing only his second Test, proved the perfect foil for Smith, whose decisive footwork against the spinners and positive intent stood out in an otherwise Australian batting capitulation.
When the things were looking a little depressing for Pakistan fans Mohammad Hafeez provided the much-needed breakthrough when Asad Shafiq took a marvelous and unbelievable catch in the leg slip to send Marsh back to pavilion. Marsh scored 47 runs and resisted until 130th ball he faced and hit six boundaries during his crease on the stay. Pakistan took the new ball just one over before the lunch and Australians went to the break without any further damage.
But as soon as they returned, leg-spinner Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar made their stay on the wicket quite short and sent them packing as last five Australian wickets tumbled for eight runs in 46 balls after lunch. Yasir denied Smith his fifth Test century, trapping him leg before with the second delivery after lunch, which opened the flood gates and Australia collapsed in a heap. Smith hit 12 fours in his 204-ball knock that proved there were no real demons in the dry and dusty pitch.
Next to go was wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin who was bowled out by Zulfiqar. On the very next delivery of the new over Yasi clean bowled Mitchell Johnson for nought. Yasir completed figures of three for 44 when Mitchell Starc was bowled, leaving the honour of finishing off Australia to Zulfiqar, who had Lyon caught by Azhar for a golden duck and the left-arm spinner also completed his second five-wicket haul in Tests. Hafeez ended with figures of two for 38.
Pakistan won the opening Test in Dubai by 221 runs and dominated this match after both Azhar and Misbah scored centuries in both innings and Yonus hit a double century.
Scoreboard
PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS: 570-6 dec
AUSTRALIA 1ST INNINGS: 261
PAKISTAN 2ND INNINGS: 293-3 dec
AUSTRALIA 2ND INNINGS:
C Rogers c Shafiq b Babar 2
D Warner c Shah b Hafeez 58
G Maxwell lbw b Babar 4
M Clarke b Babar 5
S Smith b Shah 97
M Marsh c Shafiq b Hafeez 47
B Haddin b Babar 13
M Johnson b Shah 0
P Siddle not out 4
M Starc b Shah 2
N Lyon c Ali b Shah 0
EXTRAS: (b5, lb1, nb3, pen5) 14
TOTAL: (all out; 88.3 overs) 246
FOW: 1-19, 2-31, 3-43, 4-101, 5-208, 6-238, 7-238, 8-238, 9-245
BOWLING: Rahat 8-6-3-0, Khan 8-1-29-0, Hafeez 17-4-38-2, Babar 32.3-2-120-5, Shah 22-4-44-3, Ali 1-0-1-0
TOSS: Pakistan
UMPIRES: Richard Kettleborough (ENG) and Nigel Llong (ENG)
TV UMPIRE: Marais Erasmus (RSA)
MATCH REFEREE: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)