Twitter Reactions: Pakistan stretch their lead to 281 runs after skittling Australia for 145

Pakistan are in a dominating position in the ongoing second and final Test match in Abu Dhabi. Mohammad Abbas was the star bowler for them who registered his third five-wicket haul in the longest format of the game. Australian batsmen just failed to play his deliveries and succumbed to spin-bowling as well to go down once again much like they did in Dubai in the first innings.

At 36/2, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh resumed the play for their team in the morning. But they got off to the worst possible start as the latter was undone with a superb delivery by Abbas. He came over the wicket and made Marsh poke at a delivery which went to the second slip where Haris Sohail was placed and he didn’t commit any mistake. Yasir Shah then scalped the other Marsh who looked good until edging a beautiful ball from the leggie and was once again caught by Asad Shafiq in the slip.

Before him, Travis Head failed to replicate his heroics in Dubai and was sent back by Abbas-Shafiq duo. Meanwhile, Finch looked determined and didn’t give away his wicket. However, the introduction of Bilal Asif changed things dramatically again as he picked three wickets in his short spell.

Mitchell Starc smacked a few good shots lower down the order and his 34-run knock gave some respectability to their total. They were eventually bundled out for 145 runs conceding a mammoth lead of 137 runs to Pakistan. Abbas fittingly picked the last wicket and completed his third five-wicket haul as he celebrated by thanking God.

Pakistan strengthen their position

Pakistan didn’t have to worry about time this time around and they approached their second innings cautiously. Mohammad Hafeez failed once again but Azhar Ali made the opportunity count this time around. Fakhar Zaman played an aggressive in their partnership and went on to become the first Pakistani opener to notch up twin fifties on his Test debut.

He scored 66 off just 83 balls and was sent back by Nathan Lyon with a brilliant return catch. Meanwhile, Azhar finally found some form after a long time. He grew in confidence after spending some time in the middle and remained unbeaten on 54 until the end of day’s play. He was accompanied by Sohail on 17 as Pakistan ended the day on 144/2 with a lead of 281 runs.

They will look to bat Australia out of the game on the third day now and this provides a great chance to their batsmen to gain some much-needed confidence which lacked in the first innings.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of the day:

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