MELBOURNE – An emotional Australia orchestrated an innings and 18 runs win over Pakistan in the second Test in Melbourne on Friday.
Australia bowled out Pakistan for 163 and won the three-match series 2-0.
Pacer Mitchell Starc delivered the final blow by ending Sarfraz Ahmed’s resistance at 43 and getting Wahab Riaz and Yasir Shah out for ducks.
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Nathan Lyon grabbed the wickets of veterans Younis Khan (24) and skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (0) and then dismissed Asad Shafiq for 16 to put the tourists under pressure.
Skipper Steve Smith revived hopes of achieving a result in the rain-disrupted Test with a declaration shortly before lunch.
He called a halt to a massive first innings at 624 for eight — remaining unbeaten on 165 off 246 balls — giving his fast bowlers the use of the new ball just before the interval.
Smith was unbeaten on 165 with Mitchell Starc hitting 84 off 91 balls to set up the declaration.
Pakistan declared their first innings closed at 443 for nine wickets after lunch on day three of the second test on Wednesday.
Azhar Ali finished unbeaten on 205 after Wahab Riaz fell for one, caught and bowled by paceman Josh Hazlewood for his 100th test wicket.
Azhar’s double-century, the highest score by a Pakistan cricketer in Australia, put the tourists well in front but their chances of forcing a result have been reduced by the rain that disrupted the opening two days.
Hazlewood finished with 3-50, with fellow seamer Jackson Bird grabbing 3-113.
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq had won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test.
The Green shirts made one change, with right-arm paceman Sohail Khan replacing left-armer Rahat Ali while the hosts fielded the same squad who beat Pakistan by 39 runs at Gabba.
The match started at 04:00 am Pakistan time, which corresponds to 10:30 am Australian time, 11:00 GMT and 05:00 am according to Indian time.
Star Sports Select HD 2 will telecast live action for viewers in Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, while Channel Nine will broadcast in Australia, BT Sport in the UK and Willow Sports in the US.
Viewers in Pakistan and UAE can also watch the action on PTV Sports and Ten Sports. Australia lead the series 1-0.
The visitors lost the day-night first Test at the Gabba by 39 runs, having made a bold bid at a come-from-behind victory.
Pakistan Test squad: Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Sohail Khan.
Australia squad for 1st Test: Steven Smith(c), David Warner, Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Matt Renshaw, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade.
