The much-anticipated SCG Test between Australia and Pakistan encountered an eventful second day that culminated in a halted session due to persistent rain, thwarting further play. Australia, resuming their innings at 6 for no loss, faced a daunting Pakistani bowling attack under overcast skies. David Warner and Usman Khawaja navigated cautiously but couldn’t break free from the disciplined lines set by Mir Hamza and Hasan Ali.
Warner, in his final Test match appearance, encountered a stroke of luck when he edged a delivery off Aamir Jamal, only for the usually reliable Saim Ayub to drop a crucial catch at first slip. However, Warner failed to capitalize on this reprieve and succumbed to a sharp-turning ball by Salman Ali Agha, neatly caught by Babar Azam at slip after scoring 34 runs off 68 deliveries.
Meanwhile, Khawaja, laboring under the pressure of scoring, succumbed to Aamir’s probing line, getting caught down the leg-side, initially deemed not out by the on-field umpire but overturned upon a successful review. His resilient knock of 47 off 143 deliveries reflected the painstaking nature of the conditions.
The Australian camp found some relief in the solid partnership between Marnus Labuschagne, unbeaten on 23, and Steven Smith, standing at 6 not out, as they aimed to resume the battle against the formidable Pakistan bowling attack on the following day.
The rain interruptions, after a brief halt due to bad light in the afternoon session, disrupted what promised to be an engaging day of Test cricket. With the weather outlook more favorable on Day 3, anticipation looms for an intense tussle between bat and ball as the contest at SCG resumes.
In a summary of scores, Pakistan posted a total of 313 all out in their first innings, led by Mohammad Rizwan’s resilient 88 and Aamir Jamal’s commendable 82, while Australia managed 116-2 in 47 overs, with Khawaja’s resilient 47 and Warner’s final Test innings concluding at 34.
With the weather forecast indicating a brighter day ahead, all eyes turn to the intriguing battle set to resume at 10:00 am local time on Day 3, promising an enthralling spectacle between the two cricketing powerhouses.
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