Pakistan pacers stall Australia’s progress

Pakistan’s Naseem Shah bowls during the first day of the third and final Test against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore yesterday. (AFP)

• Afridi, Shah grab key wickets as Pakistan restrict Australia to 232 for 5 wickets on Day One Quick bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets apiece yesterday to lead Pakistan’s inspired performance against Australia on the first day of the deciding third and final Test in Lahore. Afridi, 21, did the early damage, striking twice in his second over to dismiss opener David Warner for seven and No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne before he had scored, to reduce Australia to 8-2 after they won the toss and opted to bat. Shah, 19, drafted into the Pakistan side in place of all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, hurt the tourists in the final session, dismissing a well-set Steve Smith for 59 and Travis Head for 26 as Australia reached 232-5 at close. All-rounder Cameron Green was unbeaten on 20 for Australia with wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey eight not out. After their shaky start, it was opener Islamabad-born Usman Khawaja who led Australia’s fightback with a resilient 91, adding to scores of 97, 160 and 44 not out in his last three innings in his country of birth. The left-handed Khawaja, who added 136 for the third wicket with Smith, appeared set for his 12th Test hundred before Pakistan captain Babar Azam completed a one-handed catch at slip off spinner Sajid Khan. Khawaja said some deliveries from the spinners were already gripping and turning and he felt a first-innings total of close to 350 would be good for Australia. “This one (wicket) is probably some of the toughest to score runs on,” the 35-year-old told reporters, adding that he physically struggled during his knock on a hot day. Smith, Australia’s batting mainstay, completed his third successive half-century before he was out leg before wicket to a straight delivery from Shah. The first two Tests of the series – the first between the sides in Pakistan since 1998 – were drawn. “The pitch was a bit slow and also kept a bit low,” Shah said. “Our first target is to dismiss Australia under 300. I think we will get a result on this pitch.” Shah said he doesn’t get angry if the pitches are slow.  “It doesn’t anger me because if you get angry, you can’t bowl effectively,” Shah told reporters yesterday.  “Pitches are not in your control and as a professional I don’t really think about pitches. It’s more about how much effort you are putting in, and how well you adapt yourself.  In hot weather, bowling in Test cricket isn’t easy. You can get frustrated when you don’t get wickets but you have to keep yourself relaxed because you have to bowl long (spells).” Shah added: “The pitch could break up later, there are a few (rough) patches forming on it, and I feel there will be a result. I can’t say how our batters will do until they come out to bat, but I don’t think there is that much on the wicket to worry them. I’m pretty confident that they will play well and we will win.” Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is hosting a Test match for the first time since the 2009 attack by gunmen on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team. After left-armer Afridi’s two early wickets, Australia could have been in even deeper trouble but Pakistan failed to capitalise on chances offered by Khawaja and Smith. Looking to dominate left-arm spinner Ali from the onset, Khawaja, on 12, flashed hard at a full-pitched delivery but the edge flew under the hands of Babar in the lone slip position. On the next delivery, Nauman failed to hold a straightforward return catch from Smith, who was on 19. Off-spinner Sajid also spilled a return catch off Head when he was on seven. SCOREBOARD

Australia 1st inningsD. Warner lbw b Shaheen 7 Usman Khawaja c Azam b Sajid 91 M. Labuschagne c Rizwan b Shaheen 0 S. Smith lbw b Naseem 59 T. Head c Rizwan b Naseem 26 C. Green not out 20 A. Carey not out 8 Extras (b13, nb8) 21 Total (for five wkts, 88 overs) 232 Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Warner), 2-8 (Labuschagne), 3-146 (Smith), 4-187 (Khawaja), 5-206 (Head) Bowling: Shaheen 15-3-39-2, Hasan 14-5-28-0 (nb3), Naseem 19-9-36-2 (nb2), Nauman 15-2-51-0 (nb2), Sajid 25-4-65-1 Toss: Australia Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ahsan Raza (PAK)