Pakistan create history, clinch series 2-0
A defiant Steve Smith tried to delay the inevitable before Pakistan crushed Australia by 356 runs in the second and final Test to complete a 2-0 series victory in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
A defiant Steve Smith tried to delay the inevitable before Pakistan crushed Australia by 356 runs in the second and final Test to complete a 2-0 series victory in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Having set the visitors an improbable 603-run victory target, Pakistan claimed the remaining six wickets in a little over a session on the final day to secure their first Test series victory against Australia in 20 years.
The win also saw them leapfrog England, Sri Lanka and India to rise to number three in test rankings, behind South Africa and Australia.
Smith (97) added 107 runs with Mitchell Marsh in a rare display of Australian resistance in the two-match series before his post-lunch dismissal triggered a collapse with the visitors losing their last five wickets for only eight runs to be all out for 246.
“I think Misbah-ul-Haq and his team played some outstanding cricket in both test matches and we’ve certainly been outplayed,” Australia captain Michael Clarke said at the presentation ceremony.
“In all three facets — batting, bowling and fielding — we probably let ourselves down. We were not good enough against the very good and experienced Pakistan team.”
Zulfiqar Babar (5-120) and Yasir Shah (3-44) once again laid bare Australia’s spin frailties even though Pakistan were without their main spinner Saeed Ajmal who has been banned for an illegal action.
Pakistan captain Misbah was adjudged man-of-the-match for his twin centuries in the match, the second of which equalled Viv Richards’ record for the fastest test century in 56 balls.
Run-machine Younus Khan, who hit two centuries and a double hundred in his four innings, was the obvious choice for the man-of-the-series award.
misbah hailed
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq was hailed for his aggression and ambition after leading Pakistan to its first Test series win against Australia for 20 years.
“Misbah showed aggression, played with lots of heart and we demolished Australia,” ex-test fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar told Geo Television.
“All of a sudden Misbah changed his attitude, scored a century off 56 balls and you can see the results,” Akhtar said.
“He came out of his comfort zone and proved that he can play with lots of aggression,” the former fast bowler added.