Hauritz five sinks Pakistan by Jinu Sabastian

---

Ground:	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Scorecard:	Australia v Pakistan
Player:	NM Hauritz, MG Johnson
Event:	Pakistan in Australia 2009/10

---

DateLine: 30th December 2009

 

Australia did not take long to pack of the remaining seven Pakistani wickets to take lead in the three match Test series. Australia won the first Test by 170 runs as two of their much abused bowlers set up the victory. Though Mitchell Johnson was the leading wicket-taker of 2009 his erratic ways with the ball was criticised while Hauritz's lack of penetration in helpful conditions was the topic of much discussion. But the selectors showed faith in the off-spinner and Hauritz responded by taking his maiden five-fer.

 

If Pakistan had started the day with a glimmer of hope, those hopes were soon doused as the visitors lost their first wicket in the first over of the day. Johnson got Umar Akmal (27, 37 balls, 5x4) to push forward and drive at a fullish delivery which the right-hander did and in the process got an outside edge through to Haddin who dived forward and snapped up a low catch. The batsman and the umpires were not sure as to whether the catch was taken cleanly but after referring to the third umpire the batman had to go. Misbah-ul Haq (0) was gone the in the first ball that he faced as he pushed tentatively at one that was angled across him and Kamran Akmal very nearly gave Johnson the hattrick when he pushed at an identical ball from Johnson.

 

Mohammad Yousuf crossed his fifty in 88 balls as the pair put on 46 runs in 15.3 overs as visions of Mohali 2005 were raised. Hauritz however extinguished those hopes as he picked up Kamran Akmal (30, 48 balls, 4x4, 1x6) and Mohammad Aamer (0) of consecutive balls. Abdur Rauf survived the hattrick ball but Bollinger ensured that he did not stay for long as the left-armer cleaned up the tailender for 5. Skipper Yousuf and Ajmal took the Pakistani team past lunch but the visitors survived just 12 balls after lunch as the final two wickets fell in quick time. Hauritz (5-101) completed the final rites as he had Yousuf (61 140 balls, 7x4) caught at short leg of an inside edge while Ajmal had an almighty heave at a flighted one which went as far as Shane Watson at midwicket as the off spinner claimed his maiden five-fer.