AUS vs PAK | Twitter stunned as catastrophic Australian collapse abruptly propels Pakistan into driver's seat
Australia and a batting collapse are two terms foreign to each other given the former's world-renowned mental fortitude and resilient dominance, especially at home. However, Pakistan managed to trigger the rare event at MCG with an exquisite display of bowling that earned them four quick scalps.
Pakistan seemed destined for another huge loss and consequently conceding an unassailable series lead after they folded out for 264 on the morning of Day 3 in chase of Australia's first innings total of 318. However, their fortunes unexpectedly quickly soon after as Australia's in-form batting unit slumped like a house of cards in overcast conditions to hand the visitors a significantĀ grasp on the Boxing Day Test.
The upsurge beganĀ in the first over itself as Shaheen Afridi took just two deliveries to get rid of the formidable Usman Khawaja. The left arm quick pitched the Kookaburra back of aĀ length that shaped awayĀ justĀ enough from the batter to take a tickle off his outside edge en route to an easy grab for Mohammad Rizwan.Ā However, the hosts seemed set toĀ recompose with Lunch on the horizon and Marnus Labuschagne had just one more delivery to contend with ahead of the break butĀ his fatal instincts handed the Men in Green a gift. Afridi slid a ball way down leg to cap off the third over and an off-balance Labuschagne attempted toĀ reach for it and the ball slid off his face for another caught behind.
However, havoc only truly brokeĀ in the second session when Mir Hamza took the ball in hand for his third over of the day. Australia had added 10 runs after the break to their score from 6/2Ā with David Warner on strike when the right-arm medium pacerĀ delivered a tempting half-tracker significantly wide of the batter.Ā The opener shuffled a couple of steps down the track and attempted a half-hearted pull but could only manage an inside edge as the red cherry crashed into the stumps. Travis Head was the next in line and first up received an unplayable jaffa as Hamza's delivery started wide of the stumps before experiencing prodigious movement in the air toĀ split open the southpaw andĀ meander the gap between bat and pad to sound the death rattle.
A stunned silence pervaded the iconic MCG asĀ Hamza wheeled around in celebration while being chased by his ecstatic teammates and TwitteratiĀ took no time to heap praise on the visitors' efforts.
Crazy delivery!
BOWLED! Mir Hamza rips an in-swinger through Travis Head first ball!Ā Ā |Ā Ā |Ā Ā
ā cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)Ā
What an over!!
. spent one over in the commentary box, brought two wickets, and forgot that the camera is always on š
ā 7Cricket (@7Cricket)
Pure delight!
Off the last ball before lunch!
ā cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau)Ā
Pure delight for Shaheen Afridi who gets Marnus Labuschagne!Ā Ā
The great collapse
Batting collapse os Australia in 2023 š®š®Ā Ā Ā Ā
ā Malik Idrees Rehman (@Malik_Rehman56)Ā
A thing of beauty
PSA: Turn on Australia V Pakistan now.
ā Louis Herman-Watt (@LouisHWatt)Ā
Aussie batting collapse in full swing, thing of beauty!
A mini collapse
Pakistan produced a mini-collapse of Australia. Hosts are four down in first 6 overs. MCG is ready with a thriller. Itās a perfect stage to put Australian under pressure. Pakistan are on driverās seat.Ā
ā CHARLIE (@CharlieGulshan)Ā
The eagle
No bowler has now dismissed Marnus Labuschagne more often in Test Cricket than Shaheen Shah Afridi š¦ - 6 times.Ā
ā Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi)Ā
On fire
Absolutely on fire š„š„š„
ā Talha Junaid (@TalhaJunaid786)Ā
This man is unstoppable when in groove. 2 wickets in 2 overs for Shaheen Shah Afridi. šš
Little beauty
"Shaheen Afridi you Little beauty" š„µš„
ā šš®ššš®š» šš®šµš¶š±Ā¹ā° | š¦šŖ (@Iam_hassan10)Ā
Back with a bang
Shaheen Shah Afridi is back with 2 quick wkts before lunch break. He gets his bunny Labuschagne too. What a beautiful morningšĀ
ā Naqeeb Ur Rehman (@Qeebi)Ā
Superb
What a bowling by Shaheen Shah AfridišÆš»š!!
ā BUTT BA56 (@Dinga__BA56)Ā
Back to back two wickets in a rowšÆĀ |Ā |
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