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Pakistan is doing fairly well. You even defy yourself
to believe that Pakistan is winning on this particular day. On the second day
of the Boxing Day Test, they easily defeated Australia’s last seven in a single
session, despite the fact that they gave away a whooping fifty-two
extras—possibly in the spirit of the holidays. And now, Abdullah Shafique, the
opener, and captain Shan Masood are comfortably neutralising Australia’s pace
attack. The collaboration receives a score of 90 out of 124. There are over 45,000
spectators here to see the Test match. That is not available in Pakistan.
Subsequently, you spot something that appears to be
familiar, and you discover, horrified, that you didn’t even have to leave
Lahore to see it. Pat Cummins pitches one up, it’s getting closer, and Abdullah
Shafique in the bowler’s general vicinity gives it an unsure shove. With a
single, fluid motion, Cummins bends low, and when he comes up from a dive, he
has the ball in his hands.
However, when playing Pakistan, these catches always
seem to find their way into Cummins’ safe grasp. Twenty-one months prior, in
the second series of his career, Shafique and Azhar Ali, who was nearing the
end of his career, shared a partnership of 150 runs in Lahore. Although he had
already conceded 44 runs, his partnership with Azhar had propelled Pakistan
into a somewhat safe position, as they had incited an Australian collapse to
limit them to less than 400. When Azhar executed a very identical shot—the
nothing push—it was 214 for 2.
Up until that point, Australia had worked all day with
little to show for it. However, just like a cheetah waiting for its
opportunity, they know when to attack. The delivery of the Test match thus far,
one that lands outside off and moves in off the seam so sharply, only takes
Cummins three more deliveries to produce. The defensive prod from Babar Azam
just ends up going around it. It’s time to feast since Australia pounced at the
perfect moment to bring their victim to the ground.
Masood doesn’t let what he’s witnessed happen on the
other end affect how he attacks Nathan Lyon as he dances down the crease.
However, a bowler with 500 wickets at slightly over 30 will only take so much
abuse from a batter with 1600 runs at slightly under 30. Masood loses his shape
and wicket in the shot because he doesn’t recognise the slightly altered flight
path and the length pushed a shade back.
In a little more than an hour, Pakistan loses five
wickets for 46 runs. The idea that Pakistan might dominate Australia for the
better part of two thirds of a day and then finish in a much worse position
than they began is simultaneously unbelievable and inevitable.
With four lower-order wickets remaining and Australia
leading, Pakistan is trailing. Each of those 124 runs weighs heavily.