Twitter Reactions: Australia take lead; Pakistan were so close yet so far

When Pakistan finished day 3 on 382 for 8 they had Asad Shafiq and Yasir Shah at the crease. Despite the fact that Shafiq was batting on 100 very few gave Pakistan a chance to chase down 108 runs on the last day. The Aussie pacers were expected to blow off the last two wickets early on and close the game. But after a dismal first innings show where they just managed 142 runs, Pakistan made an exemplary comeback in their next knock to fight with every ounce of their sweat and blood.

The Shafiq-Yasir partnership gave Australia a real scare. They got together on 378 and took the team to a position where the target was under 50 runs. The Aussies had started to get desperate now, their A plans for the morning didn’t work; the ball kissed the fingers of the fielders but went to the fence, the Yorkers were off target and the bouncers weren’t troubling the pair.

But as the target came closer the pressure was on Pakistan, from a point where they weren’t really expected to win, with each run they could feel they were getting there and thus the expectation of a victory rose. Mitchell Starc finally got a bouncer right, Shafiq couldn’t decide whether to duck or to play and David Warner was there to grab it. Once he was gone it was just a formality.

Yasir Shah now the senior partner tried to shield Rahat Ali against Starc and while attempting a single on the last ball of the 145th over was run out via a direct hit by Australian skipper Steve Smith. What an end to a thrilling Test match played with the pink ball. The game could be termed one of the best we have seen in recent times and Pakistan though ended on the losing side deserve applause for their determined effort that almost defied history.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Australia’s win:

https://twitter.com/umairjav/status/810690584272834560