The first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Perth brought moments of missed opportunities for the Pakistani side. Particularly in the fielding department, the team failed again as Australia dominated proceedings with a solid opening partnership from David Warner and Usman Khawaja. However, the highlight was Pakistan’s poor fundraising efforts.
In the 16th over, debutante Aamer Jamal delivered a short ball to Khawaja, who attempted a big shot. However, Abdullah Shafique’s first slip failed to secure what should have been a straightforward catch. The ball bounced off his chest, rolling over the ropes. While Khawaja was eventually dismissed for 41, it was a significant chance that went begging.
On the other hand, David Warner, facing criticism, went on to score his 26th Test century. However, he also offered Pakistan a chance. After reaching the milestone, Warner attempted a big hit off Agha Salman, but Khurram Shahzad dropped a catch that should have been taken, and the ball raced to the boundary. Eventually, he was dismissed for 164 runs.
Hilarious run-out chance missed by Pakistani players
Amid poor efforts from youngsters, experienced players like Sarfraz Ahmed and Babar Azam also missed opportunities. Agha Salman enticed Warner to go for another big hit, but Sarfraz failed to collect it cleanly, resulting in a missed stumping chance. The ball went on to Babar Azam at first slip, but a shy at the stumps missed the mark, allowing the Aussies to add another run to the scoreboard.
Here is the video:
Peak Moment During AUS vs PAK Match ??pic.twitter.com/s85ECVwr0h
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The poor fielding display proved costly for Pakistan, as Warner and Khawaja went on to build an unbeaten century stand, putting Australia in a commanding position. These missed chances highlighted Pakistan’s struggle in the field, and the team will need to address these issues to make a comeback in the Test match. At the end of Day 1, Australia posted a massive total of 346/5 as Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh went back unbeaten for 15 and 14 runs, respectively.
