Hasan Ali showers praises on debutant Bilal Asif for his six-wicket haul on debut

Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali took to Twitter to congratulate his teammate Bilal Asif for bagging a terrific five-wicket haul in his debut Test against Australia. The debutant offspinner helped Pakistan take a 280-run lead in the first innings of the Dubai Test by tearing through Australia’s middle order, even after the openers had put on a partnership of 142.

Hosts Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, and out came veteran Mohammad Hafeez alongside Imam ul-Haq to open the innings. The duo stitched together a fabulous 200-run plus stand for the first wicket, with Hafeez getting to a beautifully constructed Test century. At no.4, Haris Sohail followed suit by scoring another hundred, while Asad Shafiq contributed a handy 80. Pakistan had exhausted the Australians in the desert heat and were very much in the driver’s seat with a first innings total of 482.

Bilal Asif – a find for Pakistan

In reply, Australia got off to a solid start with debutant Aaron Finch taking charge with Usman Khawaja. However, once he was dismissed for 62 by Mohammad Abbas, Australia underwent one of the most remarkable collapses in Test history. They went from 142-0 to being bundled out for just 202. Bilal Asif was the wrecker in chief, finishing the first innings with outstanding figures of 6-36.

Hasan Ali, who is not playing the Test match, tweeted following the offspinner’s successful spell, He wrote, “What debut @bilalasif2411 brilliant bowling congratulations on first six-fer stay hunger many more coming”

At the age of 33, Bilal Asif became the oldest Pakistan player to take a five-for on Test debut. The offie also recorded the third-best figures on Test debut for Pakistan, behind Mohammad Zahid and Mohammad Nazir, both of whom got 7-wicket hauls in their debut Tests.

Pakistan lost quick wickets towards the end of day’s play, but they’d still believe that the Test is in their control, thanks to Bilal’s six-for. Unfortunately for Bilal, he was also sent as nightwatchman but was dismissed after just 5 balls for a duck. Opener Imam ul-Haq remains unbeaten on 23, with Pakistan 3 down for 45 and leading by 325 runs.

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