25/12Result
2nd Test, Pakistan tour of Australia at Melbourne, Dec 26-30 2016
Australia won by an inns & 18 runs
Player of the Match
Steven Smith
Steven SmithAustralia
25/12Result
2nd Test, Pakistan tour of Australia at Melbourne, Dec 26-30 2016
Australia won by an inns & 18 runs
Player of the Match
Steven Smith
Steven SmithAustralia

END OF OVER:
142 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 624/8

  • Steven Smith165 (246b)
  • Yasir Shah41-2-207-3
  • Sohail Khan31-7-131-3

12.04pm Australia have declared. Pakistan will have tricky 16 minutes to negotiate before lunch. With this not-out, Smith ends 0.1 behind Bert Suttcliffe on overall averages and just five unbeaten runs short of Bradman's average at MCG. That doesn't matter, though. This is a perfect declaration. Pakistan have to bat for four overs or so before lunch, and then two sessions to go. Trailing by 181, they will be denied the confidence you can draw from having drawn level, which is when every run scored means the opposition will have to come back and score it

Yobo: "I wish I was as technically poor as Smith. "

141.6
W
Yasir Shah to Lyon, OUT, he is caught and bowled off a skier. Lyon steps out, looks for a big hit, not to the pitch of the ball and just skies it up for a catch for Shah

NM Lyon c & b Yasir Shah 12 (7m 8b 2x4 0x6) SR: 150.00

141.5
4
Yasir Shah to Lyon, FOUR, looks for the big sweep from outside leg, but the turn and bounce take the top edge and sail over Sarfraz
141.4
1
Yasir Shah to Smith, 1 run, vertical sweep for a single to fine leg
141.3
1
Yasir Shah to Lyon, 1 run, straighter, Lyon sweeps, Smith is back on strike
141.2
4
Yasir Shah to Lyon, FOUR, pitched well outside leg but too full. Lyon loves the sweep and sends it fine of fine leg

Smith has a word with Lyon

141.1
0
Yasir Shah to Lyon, no run, looks to pull a shortish ball from well outside leg. Beaten by the turn and the bounce

Chris: "@Bian. You should at least start to marinate them."

END OF OVER:
141 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 614/7

  • Nathan Lyon3 (3b)
  • Steven Smith164 (245b)
  • Sohail Khan31-7-131-3
  • Yasir Shah40-2-197-2
140.6
1
Sohail Khan to Lyon, 1 run, full, outside off, driven hard down to long-off for one
140.5
2
Sohail Khan to Lyon, 2 runs, slower ball, 98ks, outside off, Lyon gets a big edge but that doesn't reach point. Sami Aslam goes for the catch, dives for it, and loses the ball after it bounces in front of him. They take a couple
140.4
0
Sohail Khan to Lyon, no run, full, swinging in late, beats his heave-ho, and also the leg stump

Nathan Lyon is the new batsman

140.3
1
Sohail Khan to Smith, 1 run, Smith swings hard. Not in any particular direction. Just hits hard. It lands just short of long-on

brad: "a huge misconception; Smith is not technically poor. He is just a very unique batsman. He has very few faults."

140.2
2
Sohail Khan to Smith, 2 runs, short of a length, straight, dropped fine on the leg side with soft hands for a couple. Sarfraz not at the stumps to collect the throw

"@Brian Scientist...seriously ...I have been watching test cricket for 50 odd years, and have even played against a dozen or so test cricketers, and Smith is a freak..his average may even get higher." Spinnercoach, let's drop names too, if that is okay by you

140.1
W
Sohail Khan to Starc, OUT, finally Pakistan have a wicket. Starc looks for a six off Sohail too but mistimes the hook and is caught at deep backward square leg. Good on Starc. Not thinking of a possible hundred. Shafiq takes a safe low catch running in. Not before Starc has set the new record for most sixes in an innings at MCG

MA Starc c Asad Shafiq b Sohail Khan 84 (128m 91b 3x4 7x6) SR: 92.30

END OF OVER:
140 | 10 Runs | AUS: 608/6

  • Mitchell Starc84 (90b)
  • Steven Smith161 (243b)
  • Yasir Shah40-2-197-2
  • Sohail Khan30-7-125-2
139.6
1
Yasir Shah to Starc, 1 run, short of a length, pushed towards cover
139.5
6
Yasir Shah to Starc, SIX, it doesn't matter. You could have all the nine fielders on the leg-side fence but they can't catch 10 rows deep in the stands. Dropped by a falling gentleman in the stands too. Another clean swing over cow corner. Starc now is the solo record holder for most sixes in an innings at MCG. Highest team score at MCG too

Four men on the leg-side fence

139.4
1lb
Yasir Shah to Smith, 1 leg bye, short outside leg, Smith looks for the vertical sweep. Is beaten. Gets a leg-bye
139.3
0
Yasir Shah to Smith, no run, full, outside off, driven straight to cover

Match Coverage

All Match News

Losing streak

5

No. of consecutive Tests lost by Pakistan, including this - their joint-most successive losses. They had lost 5 in a row in 1999-00 as well.

Ruling Boxing Day

575

Runs scored by Steven Smith in the last 3 Boxing Day Tests, including 165* in this match. He made 192 & 14 v Ind in 2014 and 134* & 70* v WI in 2015.

Hat-trick of 1000s

3

No. of consecutive years in which Smith has scored 1000+ runs. Only Hayden (5) did it more times. Lara, Trescothick, Pietersen also in 3 consecutive years.

Solid start

3

No. of consecutive Tests from debut in which Peter Handscomb has scored at least a fifty, including this. He made 54 on debut v SA and 105 in the last Test.

Openers dominate at MCG

2003

Last time openers from either sides scored centuries at MCG, before Azhar and Warner in this Test - Sehwag & Hayden.

Maiden ton at MCG

0

No. of Test 100s at MCG for Warner, before today. He had ave of 24.22 in 9 inns with best of 62. With this ton, he has 100s at all 6 Aus venues he has batted on.

Warner's 5000

19

No. of Aus batsmen to score 5000 or more runs in their Test career, including Warner. He is the 6th quickest after Bradman, Hayden, G Chappell, Harvey and Hussey.

Second double

1

No. of Pakistan players to make more than one double-century in a year. Azhar Ali, this year, became the first to do so.