Marsh’s 96 gives Australia edge as Pakistan left to rue dropped catch

In-form Mitchell Marsh and a battling Steven Smith struck half-centuries under pressure to deflate Pakistan as Australia regained control of the Boxing Day Test after recovering from a calamitous top-order collapse.

In cloudy conditions and on a tricky MCG surface, Australia had crashed to 16 for 4 in their second innings with a lead of just 70 runs. But Marsh and Smith combined for a 153-run partnership in the highest fifth-wicket stand in Test history from a total of 20 for 4 or lower.

In a late twist, they both fell in the final session with Smith dismissed for 50 on what proved to be the last ball of day three when he gloved a brutal delivery from spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi to gully.

Afridi’s strike gave Pakistan hope, but Australia still had the edge with a valuable lead of 241 runs with four wickets in hand.

Pakistan, however, could have been in a far better position. The pivotal moment came early in the second session when Marsh on 20 was badly dropped by Abdullah Shafique at first slip off quick Aamer Jamal when Australia were 46 for 4.

Reminiscent of his blunder early on day one when he spilt Warner, Shafique could not hold onto a thick edge from Marsh’s attempted drive. The ball almost rebounded to Salman Agha, who appeared to be caught off guard. Shafique was eventually removed from the slips as Pakistan’s confidence nosedived.

Ghosts of the past appeared to be rearing for Pakistan as seemingly distracted captain Shan Masood misfielded at mid-off on the next delivery to gift Marsh a boundary.

Chief scores:

Australia 318 and 187/6 (Mitchell Marsh 96, Steven Smith 50, Mir Hamza 3/27, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/58)

Pakistan 264 (Abdullah Shafique 62, Shan Masood 54, Mohammad Rizwan 42, Pat Cummins 5/48, Nathan Lyon 4/73)

The post Marsh’s 96 gives Australia edge as Pakistan left to rue dropped catch appeared first on DailyNews.