• Pakistan ended the Day 2 of the Boxing Day Test at a score of 194/6.

  • Pat Cummins shined with the ball for Australia, while Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood scored brilliant fifties for Pakistan.

AUS vs PAK [Twitter reactions]: Pat Cummins outshines Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood’s fifties on Day 2 of MCG Test
Pat Cummins and Abdullah Shafique (Image Source: Twitter)

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The second day of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was nothing short of enthralling cricket action. Both teams showcased moments of brilliance, with Australia dominating with the ball after being bundled out for 318 in their first innings.

Despite managing to restrict Australia reach a formidable total, Pakistan’s hopes were significantly dented as they finished the day on 194/6, courtesy of a remarkable display by Aussie skipper Pat Cummins.

Australia’s innings

Resuming their innings on a promising 187/3, Australia aimed to build on their foundation. Despite Marnus Labuschagne (63) reaching his fifty and Mitchell Marsh contributing a crucial 41 runs, wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing Australia from posting a formidable total. Aamer Jamal led the Pakistani bowling attack with three wickets, supported by Hasan Ali, Mir Hamza, and Shaheen Afridi, who all claimed two wickets each.

Pakistan’s solid start

Pakistan faced an early setback with the cheap dismissal of Imam ul Haq. However, Abdullah Shafique (62) and Shan Masood (54) displayed resilience, forming a solid partnership that raised hopes for the visitors. Both batters notched up brilliant fifties, providing Pakistan with a strong foundation to build upon.

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Pat Cummins strikes

The turning point of the day came when Australian skipper Cummins broke the formidable partnership by dismissing Shafique, shifting the momentum in Australia’s favour. Cummins finished the day with three crucial wickets to his name, proving once again why he is a vital asset for the Australian team.

Pakistan’s batting collapse

Despite the brilliant efforts of Shafique and Masood, Pakistan’s batting lineup collapsed after their dismissals. The Australian bowlers, led by Cummins and supported by Nathan Lyon, managed to capitalize on the vulnerability of the Pakistani middle order. The day concluded with Pakistan reeling at 194/6 when stumps were called, putting Australia in a strong position going into Day 3.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.