Mitchell Marsh has achieved the rare feat of surviving back-to-back dismissals after umpire Joel Wilson made successive blunders early on day two of the Second Test. The Australian all-rounder was on seven when he was given out LBW to...
Mitchell Marsh has achieved the rare feat of surviving back-to-back dismissals after umpire Joel Wilson made successive blunders early on day two of the Second Test.
The Australian all-rounder was on seven when he was given out LBW to Hasan Ali in the 74th over of the first innings with the home side 4-217 but after consulting with batting partner, Marnus Labuschagne, he called for a review.
Replays showed he snicked the ball onto his pad and Marsh was given a reprieve by the third umpire.
On the very next delivery, Hasan produced another false shot from Marsh and appealed for a caught-behind dismissal and Wilson again sent Marsh on his way.
This time, the review showed he had not hit the ball and it had brushed his pad as it carried through to wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan.
“Joel Wilson having a shocker, in my opinion,” said Pakistani legend Wasim Akram on Fox Cricket.
Travis Head was out early on day two after edging Shaheen Shah Afridi to slip on 17 but Labuschagne has progressed past his half-century milestone as Australia look to bat Pakistan out of the contest.
Warner says Aussies will up scoring rate
Heading into day two, David Warner wants Australia to put the foot down in search of a first-innings score in excess of 400 in the second Test against Pakistan, but acknowledges it will be a tough ask.
Australia will resume at 3-187 at the MCG on Wednesday with Marnus Labuschagne (44no) and Travis Head (9no) at the crease.
The hosts were sent in to bat by Pakistan and Warner (38) put on 90 for the first wicket with Usman Khawaja (42) before the visitors hit back.
A three-hour rain delay frustrated both sides and means Australia will look to increase their run rate on day two, having batted at 2.83 through 66 overs so far.
“We’re in a pretty good position. We’re going to have to bat well and set it up for our bowlers,” Warner said.
“Anything with a four in front of it would be (a great score) but it’s going to be probably another tough grind.
“If they bowl like they did today and have very good discipline, it’s going to be a challenge.
“But that means we have to put the accelerator down if we’re going to get to that total with (part of) a day lost (to rain).”
Warner expects the wicket to continue offering some encouragement to bowlers on day two.
David Warner and Mir Hamza collide during day one. (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“The wicket looks good,” he said.
“If you put the ball in the right areas you probably challenge the bat a little bit more and get those nicks.”
Pakistan bowler Hasan Ali was pleased with the visitors’ output on day one.
“We are a bit (unlucky) we haven’t got enough wickets but the best thing is we did not give them enough runs,” Ali said.
“So I think we are a bit ahead of them. We’re looking for tomorrow to bowl them out on minimum runs.”