Substitute Al-Othman leads Al-Qadsiah to a crucial victory against Al-Khaleej    Ronaldo's double powers Al-Nassr to a 2-0 victory over Damac    Minister Al-Samaani inaugurates technical office to enhance judicial quality in Qassim    Riyadh Metro ticket prices starts at SR4    Saudi Arabia's R&D expenditure hits SR22.61 billion in 2023    Saudi Arabia, Comoros strengthen economic ties with new MoU    Saudi Arabia retains its seat on OPCW Executive Council    Saudi Transport Authority cracks down on foreign trucks violating rules    Saudi Arabia receives extradited citizen wanted for corruption crimes from Russia    Ukraine fights to keep the lights on as Russia hammers power plants    Indian airlines hit by nearly 1,000 hoax bomb threats    Sweden asks China to cooperate over severed cables    Childcare worker who abused more than 60 girls jailed for life    K-Pop group NewJeans split from agency in mistreatment row    Defending the Truth: Saudi Arabia and the 2034 World Cup    Culture minister visits Diriyah Art Futures    GCC Preparatory Ministerial Meeting discusses developments in Gaza and Lebanon    Al Taawoun seals AFC Champions League Two knockout spot with 2-1 win over Al Khaldiya    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Pakistan falls short by 40 runs
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 20 - 12 - 2016

Australia prevented a world-record, 490-run chase by Pakistan Monday to win a gripping first Test by just 39 runs and preserve its 28-year unbeaten streak at Brisbane's Gabba ground.
Relieved skipper Steve Smith ran out Yasir Shah for 33 to take the last wicket and end Pakistan's brave attempt to reel in the mammoth target on the last day of the day-night Test.
"I think I lost all my fingernails. Some game of cricket, wasn't it?" said Smith. "A lot of credit has got to go to the way they played. But I thought our bowlers stuck at it all day, we bowled a lot of overs, our quicks just kept coming back."
The highest ever successful Test run chase of 418 for seven was set by the West Indies against Australia in Antigua in 2003.
And Pakistan looked on course to beat that on the back of Asad Shafiq's knock of 137, but he was caught shortly before Yasir's run out.
His magnificent innings came to end when a Mitchell Starc lifter came off the shoulder of his bat and lobbed to David Warner in the gully for the crucial catch.
Man-of-the-Match Shafiq faced 207 balls in 336 minutes and hit 13 fours and a six. While he was at the wicket, Pakistan's hopes of a remarkable victory were still realistic.
"There is energy, we have to go for the match here, so that's what I was aiming for, for the match," said Shafiq.
In the process, Pakistan posted its highest fourth innings total, surpassing its previous best of 382 for three to beat Sri Lanka in Pallekele last year.
"I'm happy, because after the first innings, it was looking very difficult for us to come back in this game," said Pakistan captain Misbahul Haq.
"But the way all the team, all the batsmen showed their character, that was wonderful, and we got some special knocks from the tailenders as well.
"A lot of positives, I'm happy and proud the way the team played in the fourth innings."
The victory, in the first day-night Test at the Gabba, extended Australia's unbeaten record to 28 Tests at the venue since its last defeat in 1988.
It was also Australia's second straight win after Test series defeats to Sri Lanka and South Africa this year prompted a team shake-up.
Australia has now won all three of the pink-ball Tests it has played at home over the last 12 months. But for much of Monday's final session the Australians were frustrated by Pakistan's tailenders chipping away at its lead.
Shafiq and Yasir were finding runs easy to score. Nathan Lyon made a fantastic flying two-handed effort at point, but narrowly missed catching Yasir on 27.
There was a big moment when Yasir was hit on the back leg while shouldering arms to Josh Hazlewood and given out on 30, but a review showed the ball clearing the stumps and the decision was reversed.
But Starc's brutish delivery to Shafiq grabbed the vital breakthrough, before Smith's throw-down to catch Yasir out of his ground and snatch victory.
Pakistan, despite coming up short, showed by its spirited response that it can do better in the rest of the three-Test series, with Melbourne next up on Boxing Day.
Smith chose not to enforce the follow-on after Pakistan was dismissed for 142, even though it was 287 runs in front on the first innings.
The Australians added a brisk 202 for five batting again and in the end it just proved enough to get the home side over the line.
Australia, meanwhile, named an unchanged 12-man squad Monday for the Boxing Day Test.


Clic here to read the story from its source.