There was no respite for Pakistan bowlers on the second day as well, with Australia closing the day on 505/8. Usman Khawaja slammed 160 before Sajid Khan bowled him, while Alex Carey missed his maiden Test century by seven runs.
Other than Khawaja and Carey, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, and Cam Green chipped in with vital contributions as well. The pitch, as expected, offered little in the first two sessions, but there was inconsistent bounce and turn in the last two sessions.
Australia are not looking to bat twice on this pitch, which was probably why they did not declare on Day 2. If the pitch continues to wear, this will not be an easy surface to bat on, especially on the last two days. The spin duo of Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Swepson will fancy their chances to run through the opponents.
Pakistan's first target will be to get rid of tail enders early. Mitchell Starc has played 95 balls for his 25. Pat Cummins, yet to score, is also a handy batter.
Then they need a solid start from their in-form openers, Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq. They need to be mindful of the scoring rate as well, considering runs will not come as easy on Days 4 and 5.
Fantasy Tips
- Starc and Cummins are must-haves for your team.
- Among batters, pick Shafique, Fawad, Babar, and Imam.