Melbourne Test: Australia clinches victory by 79 runs

MELBOURNE: In a gripping turn of events at the Melbourne Test, Australia sealed a compelling victory by 79 runs. The match at the MCG stadium unfolded with Australia setting a challenging target for Pakistan, ultimately culminating in a thrilling culmination on the fourth day.

Australia’s second innings commenced with a total score of 187 runs for the loss of 6 wickets at the end of the third day, amassing a commanding lead of 241 runs against Pakistan. Mitchell Marsh spearheaded the Australian effort, contributing a commendable 96 runs, while Alex Carey displayed his batting finesse with a half-century, notching up 53 runs with 8 boundaries.

Pakistan faces uphill battle as Australia sets challenging total

The Australian batting lineup saw notable contributions from Steven Smith (50), Pat Cummins (16), Nathan Lyon (11), and Mitchell Starc (9). However, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne faced early exits, scoring 6 and 4 runs, respectively.

As Pakistan embarked on their pursuit of the target, the second innings saw early setbacks with the dismissals of Abdullah Shafiq and Imam-ul-Haq, scoring 4 and 12 runs, respectively. Shaun Masood showed resilience, posting a substantial 60 runs before falling victim to Cummins.

Babar Azam’s departure at a score of 41 dealt a significant blow to Pakistan’s innings, setting the stage for the loss of Saud Shakeel at 24 runs. The sixth wicket fell with Muhammad Rizwan’s dismissal at 35 runs, caught out by Cummins.

Pak vs Australia: Play delayed as third umpire stuck in lift at MCG

Pakistan’s seventh wicket partnership, featuring Agha Salman (50) and Hasan Ali, showed grit without scoring additional runs. However, the eighth wicket fell to Shaheen Afridi, caught by Labuschagne off Cummins, as Pakistan’s total reached 237 runs for the loss of seven wickets.

In a decisive turn of events, Australia’s comprehensive performance secured a remarkable victory by 79 runs in the Melbourne Test, leaving cricket enthusiasts on the edge of their seats throughout the gripping encounter.