Starc, Cummins Limit Pakistan to 203 Runs: Australia Dominate First Innings in Karachi
Karachi, Pakistan – In a dominant display of pace and precision, Australia's bowling attack, led by the formidable duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, restricted Pakistan to a modest 203 runs in the first innings of the first Test match at the National Stadium in Karachi.
The Australian bowlers, known for their aggression and movement, exploited the conditions perfectly, keeping the Pakistani batsmen under constant pressure. Starc and Cummins, in particular, were unplayable, extracting bounce and swing from the pitch to keep the Pakistani batsmen guessing.
Starc and Cummins Spearhead the Attack
Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 5-53. He bowled with incredible pace and accuracy, consistently hitting the right areas and generating awkward bounce for the Pakistani batsmen. Starc's delivery to dismiss Babar Azam, Pakistan's star batsman, was a perfect example of his potency. He bowled a searing yorker, which the world-class batsman could only manage to edge to the slips.
Pat Cummins, Australia's captain, was equally impressive, taking 3-40. He bowled with a relentless line and length, making life difficult for the Pakistani batsmen. Cummins, known for his ability to move the ball both ways, troubled the Pakistani batsmen throughout the day.
Pakistan Struggle to Respond
Despite the initial loss of Abdullah Shafique, who fell cheaply to Starc, Pakistan began their innings with a promising partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam. However, once the in-form Azam was dismissed, the Pakistani middle order crumbled.
The Australian bowlers kept the pressure on, picking up wickets regularly. While Imam-ul-Haq put up a valiant fight with a well-compiled 71 runs, he was unable to find a solid partner to build a crucial stand. The remaining Pakistani batsmen failed to make significant contributions, falling prey to the Australian pace attack.
A Strong Start for Australia
Australia will be pleased with their performance in the first innings. Their bowlers set the tone early and maintained a tight grip on the game. They created a significant advantage for themselves by keeping Pakistan's score below 250, which is a challenging target on a pitch that has shown some signs of offering turn.
The second innings will be crucial for Australia, who will be looking to capitalise on this strong start and take a commanding lead in the series. Pakistan, on the other hand, will need to regroup and produce a much better performance with the bat if they want to remain competitive in the match.