Third Test Cricket Report - Australia v Pakistan @ SCG

[QF WP]

Nooo, I jinxed another batsman:

93.6Imran Khan to Renshaw, OUT, and Renshaw's innings ends. Superb knock from the 20-year-old. What were you doing when you were 20? A good length delivery outside off, Renshaw plants his front foot forward, slightly across like usual. Wanted to dab one down to third man but the holds its line, unlike the previous deliveries, takes the inside edge and knocks into the stumps. A loud ovation for Renshaw

MT Renshaw b Imran Khan 184 (293b 20x4 0x6) SR: 62.79

Partnership 142...so 4/386

 

[QF WP]

He's also currently 10th on this stat sheet: Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPN Cricinfo

Ended up 7th, equal with David Boon.

 

[RB]

Impressive innings from Renshaw. Great shot by Cartwright to get off the mark & then a heart flutter!

 

[QF WP]

With the ever steady Handscomb hitting his 3rd 50 in just his 5th innings.

95.6
Imran Khan to Handscomb, 1 run, too straight and Handscomb has another fifty. Worked down to fine leg. Not a bad Test average, more than 99.

and 4/400 up shortly thereafter. Could end up being in the 600's if we play well today...

 

[QF WP]

Does anybody else find the first 4 partnership numbers coincidental??

1st wicket: 151
2nd wicket: 52
3rd wicket: 41
4th wicket: 142

 

[QF WP]

Better go and do some work today...

 

[QF WP]

Cartwright and Handscomb already have a 50 run partnership...the Pakistani's can't take a stumping either:

110.5
Yasir Shah to Cartwright, 3 byes, tossed up outside off, Cartwright goes after the ball with all he has. Misses the outside edge, Sarfraz fails to collect too. So does Younis. More byes. Cartwright was out of his crease too.

Now up to 4/438.

 

[QF WP]

Or a catch

115.5
Azhar Ali to Cartwright, no run, edged and dropped! Another one. Flat outside off, Cartwright gets a thick outside edge which carries to Younis' right, he gets his right hand down late and the ball bursts through

Was this truly their best team??

 

[QF WP]

Lunch on Day 2, 4/454. 600 looking very achievable

12.30pm Another solid session for Australia. They've extended their score to 454 for the loss of just Matt Renshaw in that period. Handscomb and Cartwright are looking solid. Could be an exciting session for Australia coming up, not so much if you're a Pakistan fan. We'll be back soon.
116.6

Yasir Shah to Cartwright, no run, defended towards mid-on and that will be lunch

 

[moa999]

moa999 will be heading to the exits now...

Actually hung around for Stumps Session, then dinner at a local pub

Today is going to be a much quieter day... Although I did make the first ball, but only 1.5 drinks down by lunch

 

[QF WP]

Yes, we always go harder the first day moa999 and then realise the error of our ways on subsequent days...as can be attested by my drinks bill on Day 2 of the First Test being significantly less than Day 1

You must be enjoying another great day of watching the Australians getting batting practice. Smith and Khawaja must be kicking themselves....

 

[moa999]

Unfortunate for Smith. He's had an amazing few years and his average is steadily climbing (not far behind Voges now !)

Did they show former PM Hawke doing a scull/skol from the Trust Suite?

 

[QF WP]

So my thoughts on the order of things happening:

Handscomb's 100, followed by
Partnership 100, then
Cartwrights 50
Australian 500

 

[QF WP]

Damn, I am good at jinxing....

123.5Imran Khan to Cartwright, OUT, goes through Cartwright. Lovely delivery and Imran strikes. That's a gem of a delivery. Good length delivery outside off, the ball seams back in a touch. Takes the inside edge of Cartwright's bat and knocks into the top of middle and leg. Undone by just a hint of seam movement. Well bowled

HWR Cartwright b Imran Khan 37 (97b 5x4 0x6) SR: 38.14

But another 13 (short of 50).

 

[JohnK]

Was this truly their best team??

Pakistan were number 1 in the world not that long ago and whitewashed Australia in the UAE recently. In my mind there will always be question marks on the performance of any Pakistani team. Almost pulled off a world record chase in first test and then all out in under 2 sessions on a pitch that yielded close to 1,000 runs with so much time lost to rain.

I have no doubt this is a better Aussie team but we get carried away defeating mediocrity. The test will be in the 4 test series in India in a few months. I don't think we will be good enough.

 

[QF WP]

No. of Australia players to make at least one 50+ score in each of their career's first 4 Tests - only 2. Herbie Collins and Peter Handscomb.

I'd never heard of Collins before...had to look him up: http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4602.html

 

[QF WP]

Century to Handscomb:

128.3
Azhar Ali to Handscomb, 1 run, worked away towards midwicket and he'll get the run. Handscomb's second Test century. Off comes the helmet, loud applause from the SCG crowd.

now he just needs to beat his 105 in the First Test

 

[clazman]

Great 100 by Handscomb, isn't that 2 in 4 matches?

 

[QF WP]

There's the 500 - I think now that Handscomb has his century, the shackles will come off, so looking forward to some entertaining cricket now...

129.3
Wahab Riaz to Handscomb, 2 runs, a thick inside edge races away down to fine leg. A cross-batted swat that. There's Australia's 500 too

 

[QF WP]

Great 100 by Handscomb, isn't that 2 in 4 matches?

Correct. First Test against Pakistan in BNE he scored 105, so now he has surpassed that score and had a new top Test score going. See here: Peter Handscomb | Australia Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo