Monday, December 19, 2016

Pakistani winners lose by 39 runs

Pakistan's bid for a world-record chase fell a mere 40 runs short, allowing Australia to exhale after coming close to coughing up a match they had dominated over the first four days and nights at the Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as the Gabba.

Late middle order batsman, Asad Shafiq's sublime century and sturdy support from tailender Yasir Shah took Australia close to their wit's end, but a Mitchell Starc short ball did for Shafiq when the visitors needed only 41 runs to steal the most fanciful of victories. Three balls later, Smith struck the final blow, running out Yasir from slip after the number 10 wandered out of his crease and ending a match that had seemed destined for a much wider margin.