ABU DHABI – Pakistan have defeated Australia in second Test on fourth dayby 373 runs in Abud Dhabi today (Friday).
Mohammad Abbas followed his 5-33 in the first innings with figures of 5-62to wreck Australia for 164 after they were set a big 538-run target.
The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 win in the two-match series after Australiafought back to draw the first Test in Dubai last week.
This becomes Australia s heaviest defeat against Pakistan, beating the356-run hammering at this same venue four years ago.
It was Abbas who destroyed Australia with a haul of 17 wickets in theseries — becoming the first Pakistani fast bowler to take ten wickets in aTest since Mohammad Asif’s feat against Sri Lanka at Kandy in 2006.
Abbas had jolted Australia with four wickets off just 23 balls while YasirShah finished with 3-45 to give Pakistan their tenth series win on theneutral venues of United Arab Emirates (UAE).
South Africa’s joint-highest test wicket-taker Dale Steyn was impressedwith another strong show from Abbas.
“I see a new number 1 Test bowler coming… Mohammad Abbas,” the35-year-old fast bowler said on Twitter.
Australia have only lost one series — 2-0 to Sri Lanka last year — sincebeing forced to play their home matches in UAE since 2009.
Pakistan were forced to play their home matches in UAE since attacks on theSri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009.
Australia’s batsmen had no answers to his accurate seam bowling undercloudy conditions at Sheikh Zayed Stadium as only Marnus Labuschagne (43),Travis Head (36) and Aaron Finch (31) offered some resistance.
Yasir dismissed number ten Jon Holland soon after lunch to hand Pakistanvictory.
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The first Test ended in a draw in Dubai last week.
Australian opener Usman Khawaja could not bat after suffering a recurrenceof a knee injury during practice on Thursday.
Abbas jolted the Australians in the seventh over of the day when he removeda solid-looking Head, getting an edge to substitute wicketkeeper MohammadRizwan, deputising for Sarfraz Ahmed.
Sarfraz, who was hit on the helmet by a rising Mitchell Starc delivery onThursday, had gone for a precautionary scan.
Head and Finch added 61 runs for the second wicket while Starc (28) andLabuschagne added 67 for the sixth wicket, but it only delayed theinevitable.
Abbas had Mitchell Marsh (five) and Finch (31) leg-before wicket anddismissed Tim Paine for nought — before Yasir Shah removed Starc and PeterSiddle for three.
Australia had reached 155-7 at lunch with the writing very much on the wall.
Pakistan made 282 in their first innings and then bowled out Australia fora paltry 145, gaining a match winning 137-run lead.
The highlights of Pakistan’s batting in this match were 94 and 66 fromopener Fakhar Zaman in his first Test while skipper Sarfraz returned toform with innings of 94 and 81.
Both the teams now play a series of three Twenty20 internationals with thefirst in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. APP/AFP
