Defensive Pakistan on back foot by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Scorecard:	Australia v Pakistan
Player:	Salman Butt, Shoaib Malik
Event:	Pakistan in Australia 2009/10

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DateLine: 16th January 2010

 

Australia continued their ruthless domination over Pakistan as the hosts drove themselves to a position of immense strength. At the close of play Australia were 59 for 1 in 18 overs with Katich (33 not out, 50 balls, 5x4) and first innings double centurion Ponting (25 not out, 55 balls, 4x4) at the crease with an overall lead of 277 runs.

 

Earlier resuming the day at 94 for 4 Salman Butt put his head down to score a responsible century to help his team out a the deep hole that they found themselves in. Butt (102, 234 balls, 17x4) and Malik (55, 144 balls, 10x4) added 129 runs in 45 overs to stabilise the innings before the former was caught at the slip of part-timer Katich. It was the breakthrough that the hosts needed and Katich along with Hauritz ran through the lower order before hitting a roadblock in the form of Gul (38 not out, 56 balls, 3x6, 1x4) and Asif (29, 52 balls, 5x4) who added 53 in 10.3 overs and very nearly took them over the follow-on mark before the latter was dismissed by Hauritz.

 

With a massive lead of 218 runs Ponting did not enforce the follow on. Pakistan did well when Aamer removed Watson (1, 5 balls) when he had the opener caught at mid-off. The hosts then repaired their innings through Katich and Ponting as the duo rarely looked in any sort of trouble as the Pakistani bowlers toiled hard for wickets