‘Izzat bacha gayi Pakistan ki’ – Fans react as Mohammad Rizwan smashes swashbuckling 88 after early top order collapse against Australia

Pakistan’s aspirations of winning their first Test match in Australia in 28 years were swiftly dashed as the Men in Green fell to 47/4.  This happened in the opening session of play on Wednesday at Sydney Cricket Ground in the Pink Test.

Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc both scalped wickets with their second deliveries of the match. Pat Cummins, in the meanwhile, sent Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam scurrying back to the pavilion. In the end, this drew Mohammad Rizwan to the fold. 

Considering the team’s dangerous position and the tricks the deck was pulling on the batter, the veteran would normally have been supposed to defend his wicket till lunch. However, Rizwan hit a few boundaries to put the pressure back on the bowlers.

Rizwan hit the first of his two fours against Cummins to take Pakistan above 100. During a caught-behind appeal versus Salman Agha, the Australian skipper was persuaded to use up a second review. However, the UltraEdge discovered a glaring gap and Australia lost another review. 

Salman was conservative at the start, but Rizwan showed off his whole repertoire of strokes and kept himself occupied, driving and sobbing Nathan Lyon towards the boundary before reaching his eleventh Test fifty using a pull against Josh Hazlewood’s opening ball after a few beers.

In particular, Salman and Rizwan both made excellent use of their feet to maintain frequent boundaries. They were preventing Lyon from having a chance to settle in throughout his two spells. For his second six to reach the seventies, Rizwan then slog-swept the spinner as well.

Haris Rauf amongst the substitutes for the final Test against Australia

Only a few weeks had passed since Haris Rauf abandoned his national duty to play BBL 2023–24 matches with the Melbourne Stars before joining the Pakistan cricket squad. A few days ago, the cricket player was seen travelling to Sydney while wearing Pakistani national attire. 

Many were hoping that Haris Rauf might begin the Test instead of some of the younger bowlers. As the squad prepared for the “New Year” Test match versus hosts Australia, Haris Rauf was left out of the squad.

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