Pakistan Sports Journal

It took 15 years, 14 Test and seven captains to beat Australia in a Test match and today was the day for Pakistan. Pakistan beat Australia by 3 wickets in the second Test match of MCC Spirit of Cricket series and levels the series 1-1.

Just 40 required on a sunny day with seven wickets in hand and two days to go, Pakistan were definitely the favorites to win the Test but what a thrilling end that was. As expected Australia fought will the end and almost create a miracle by taking four Pakistani wickets but in the end it was Pakistan who created the history by beating Australia by 3 wickets.

Mohammad Aamer was deservingly Pakistan’s man of the match and Shane Watson was Australia’s man of the match. Interesting thing is that Shane Watson gets his man of the match award for his bowling performance although he failed with the bat.

On the forth day of the Test match Pakistan needed only 40 runs with seven wickets in hands, Umar Akmal and Azhar Ali starts the proceeding for Pakistan . Azhar Ali completed his first fifty with a beautiful cover drive for four and on the very next ball he nicked it to the keeper Tim Pain who didn’t make any mistake on the bowling of Doug Bollinger.

Umar Akmal didn’t look like Umar Akmal, he was very defensive in his approach and wan not playing his natural game and eventually he nicked one to the keeper and got out.

Pakistan needed 30 more to win with Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal on strike, Malik gets some runs here and there but the pressure got him and he also leaves the field with Pakistan needed 19 more with 6 wickets in hands. There was on other option left for Kamran Akmal but to score some runs quickly as he did, he played some beautiful shots and gets some crucial runs for Pakistan.

The turning point of the match comes when Hussey took the catch of Kamran in the gully but Kamran stood his ground because he thought that ball had touched the ground first. Umpires took the help of third umpire and catch was dismissed. Mohammad Aamer was on the strike to Bin Helfanhaus when Pakistan needed only 5 more runs to win, Aamer nicked one ball which passes through slip fielders and only one run was required to make the history. Aamer played that over very well which gave Kamran Akmal the strike for the next over.

One run required, Pakistan players were on the boundary line ready to rush through to the crease as Kamran Akmal played a smashing square drive but a spectacular catch was taken by Micheal Hussey at gully but it was all too late. Umar Gull hits the next ball to the covers and that was the end of the losing streak and start of the new beginning.

Original Source: Pakcricketworld.com