Abdullah Shafique 'hurt' after Pakistan's batting collapse in Melbourne
Pakistan are trailing by 124 runs after Day 2.
After an embarrassing 360-run defeat in the opening Test in Perth, Pakistan’s batting unit once again crumbled under pressure. After losing Imam-ul-Haq’s wicket, Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood stitched a crucial 90-run partnership, which gave Pakistan a lot of momentum. However, Australia skipper Pat Cummins broke the stand, which completely derailed the momentum of the visiting team.
Pakistan lost six wickets for just 46 runs as Pakistan are trailing by 124 runs after Day 2. They are currently on 194/6 and need some brilliant batting from Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal on Day 3 to come back into the match. Meanwhile, speaking about their poor batting display, Shafique mentioned that it hurts him and the batting unit to lose wickets in quick succession but he expects the team to recover with the ongoing partnership.
“As a batting unit it hurts to lose these wickets back to back. But I hope we'll recover with this ongoing partnership. The conditions here are much different compared to Pakistan. Pat Cummins is a good bowler so as a batter you have to take your chances. He will not give you loose deliveries so you have to create them. He was planning something for me because I was playing well there, but I think he took a good catch as well,” Shafique was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
As a bowling unit we've done a good job: Shafique
Pakistan pacers have done a terrific job on Day 2 as they managed to bundle out Australia for 318 runs. Labuschange was the only player to score a half-century for Australia while Mitchell Marsh got out after scoring 41 runs. Speaking about their bowling performance, Shafique mentioned that the bowlers have done well in comparison to the first Test.
“As a bowling unit, we've done a good job as compared to the first Test. We bowled well here,” Shafique said. “No fielder wants to drop a catch but it's a part of the game. If I'd caught that we'd of course be in a better position,” he said about dropping David Warner’s catch.
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