Cameron Green‘s Australian teammates were watching on at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, willing the all-rounder to his maiden Test century, when his stumps were dismantled by a supreme Naseem Shah ball.
The 19-year-old Pakistan quick hurtled in and delivered a reverse-swinging ball at 140km/h, jagging it off the seam as it rocketed through a gap between Green’s bat and front pad on day two of the third Test.
The 22-year-old had played beautifully to get to 79 from 163 balls, picking up nine fours on the way, but Shah’s brilliance made him wait for a maiden Test ton that mustn’t be far away.
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Alex Carey was also denied his first Test hundred, when left-arm orthodox tweaker Nauman Ali trapped the wicketkeeper-batter LBW on 67.
Green and Carey had played crucial hands as Australia fought hard for a first-innings total of 391 all out.
“What a fine delivery that is!” said former Pakistan leg-spinner Urooj Mumtaz on Fox Cricket when Shah rearranged Green’s stumps.
“Naseem Shah is on fire.”
Former England batter Rob Key said Shah, who finished the first innings of the match with 4-58 from 31 overs, had displayed “reverse-swing bowling at its absolute best”.
Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis heaped praise on Shah and captain Babar Azam.
“Excellent seam position, excellent length and great captaincy,” Younis said.
“Bringing in the fielders close to the bat, creating doubt in Green’s mind and followed up by a beautiful delivery from Naseem Shah.
“A big smile.
“He’s bowled superbly.”
Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United branded him “super Shah” and labelled his ball a “sensational delivery”.
https://twitter.com/IsbUnited/status/1506195307796713475
Twenty-one-year-old paceman Shaheen Afridi also captured four wickets, but the left-armer conceded 3.22 runs per over to Shah’s 1.87.
Pakistan batted through 39 overs over the remainder of the day and reached stumps at 1-90, with opener Abdullah Shafique unbeaten on 45 and first drop Azhar Ali on 30 at the other end.
Australia’s bowlers struggled for wickets on a lifeless pitch that brought agonising memories of the Rawalpindi draw flooding back.
The tussle for a 1-0 series triumph will continue when play resumes on day three.
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