Younis Khan made an unbeaten century yesterday, but could not find a reliable batting partner as Pakistan struggled to 271-8 at stumps on a rain-affected third day of the third Test against Australia, still needing 68 more runs to avoid the follow-on.
The 114-Test veteran Younis scored an unbeaten 136 off 279 balls with 14 fours and a six for his 34th Test century, and his first in Australia, and provided the only significant resistance by the tourists on a day where four hours were lost to rain at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
“[Younis] has been a great servant for Pakistan cricket,” Pakistan opener Azhar Ali said. “It’s probably his last tour to Australia, so it’s a really happy, happy moment for each and every one of us.”
Spinner Nathan Lyon took three wickets and Steve O’Keefe took one as the hosts pushed toward securing a series clean sweep.
Australia lost wicketkeeper Matthew Wade to illness immediately after the resumption of play and then Matt Renshaw after being hit on the helmet while fielding at short-leg, but put aside those setbacks and were buoyed by late wickets.
“Renshaw came off with some headaches, and he will be assessed through the night and in the morning,” Australia bowling coach David Saker said. “With head knocks you have to take them quite seriously.”
Younis and Azhar Ali added 26 runs to Pakistan’s overnight score of 126-2 and looked set to make good progress toward the 338 target to avoid the follow-on before Younis was responsible for a needless run-out.
He played the ball to midwicket and called for a quick single, but Mitchell Starc’s athletic fielding and throw to Peter Handscomb, who replaced Wade behind the stumps, left Azhar stranded and out for 71.
“It was a key moment in the match,” Azhar said. “The spells from Starc and Hazelwood were almost over with the good [batting] time to come around the corner. I was looking really forward to that, but unfortunately these things happen.”
Azhar has been Pakistan’s strongest performer on a tough tour. The opener has 395 runs at an average of 98.75 in the series to become the highest Pakistan run-scorer in a series in Australia.
“It’s an achievement I am really happy about,” said Azhar, who scored 205 not out in Melbourne and 71 in Brisbane. “It is still one inning to go and I’m really focused that I make it count as well for the team.”
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
The journey of Taiwan’s badminton mixed doubles duo Ye Hong-wei and Nicole Chan at the Malaysia Masters in Kuala Lumpur came to an end in the semi-finals yesterday after they suffered a 2-0 loss to China’s Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. Ye, 25, and Chan, 20, teamed up last year and are currently ranked No. 23 in the world. The Taiwanese shuttlers took on China’s second seeds in the mixed doubles event, but proved no match for Feng and Huang, losing the match 10-21, 7-21. In the first half of the first game, the pairings were neck and neck at 6-7 until Ye
SSC Napoli coach Antonio Conte has dragged the team back from disaster and restored them to the top of Italian Serie A, but his future at the Scudetto winners is in doubt even after a triumphant season. The fiery 55-year-old has exceeded preseason expectations and bolstered his reputation as a serial winner by guiding Napoli to their fourth Scudetto, and second in three seasons. However, he might well be on his way in the summer after just one season at the helm as his charged relationship with Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentiis has simmered throughout the campaign. Conte has said
RSS