Pakistan grabbed four wickets in the second session to eye a big first-innings lead after David Warner’s aggressive hundred in the opening Test against Australia in Dubai yesterday.
Warner, who made 133, was dismissed third ball after lunch as Australia fumbled to 282-8 at tea on the third day at Dubai Stadium, still trailing Pakistan’s first innings total of 454 by 172 runs.
Mitchell Johnson (22) and Steve O’Keefe (four) were at the crease.
Photo: AFP
Debutant leg-spinner Yasir Shah (2-55) spun one sharply to bowl Warner, who by then had anchored the Australian innings in the first session.
It was the left-hander’s ninth Test century — third consecutive in as many innings — which took Australia to 207-4 at lunch after Pakistan fought back in the extended two-and-a-half hour morning session.
Warner hit 11 boundaries and two sixes during his 174-ball knock, but his fall saw Australia slump against spinners.
Mitchell Marsh (27) and Brad Haddin (22) took Australia to 248-5 during their 42-run stand for the sixth wicket, but Pakistan broke through with the new ball taken as soon it was due after 80 overs.
Debutant paceman Imran Khan had Haddin bowled off an inside edge, while left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar had Marsh LBW.
Earlier Warner held one end despite the wicket slide.
Warner saw Australia lose Chris Rogers (38), Alex Doolan (5) and skipper Michael Clarke (2) in the space of just 30 runs, before he and Steven Smith (22) added 48 for the fourth wicket.
Warner drove Khan to cover boundary for his eighth four to complete his hundred off just 128 balls.
The left-hander had hit a century in each innings against South Africa at Cape Town in Australia’s previous Test in March this year.
Australia, resuming on a strong position at 113-0, lost Rogers when he played onto seamer Rahat Ali.
Rahat was again in the scheme of things when his direct throw from mid-on found Doolan short of his crease as he attempted a sharp single.
Clarke, short on match practice after failing in the warm-up game, survived just 13 balls before giving a bat-pad catch to short-leg off Babar, who had figures of 2-77.
Smith helped Warner to take the score to 206 before he fell in the penultimate over before lunch, playing straight into the hands of point to give Shah his first wicket.
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