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Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne swings his bat during the opening day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, December 26, 2023. Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne swings his bat during the first day of the second cricket Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne, December 26, 2023. (AFP, March 26) On the rain-hit opening day of the second Test in Melbourne on Tuesday, they posted 187-3 against a sharp and tenacious Pakistan attack.
Stamps was undefeated with a brilliant 44-of-120 pitch performance, and Travis Head was nine not out after missing nearly three hours of play due to rain.
Pakistan's bowlers had plenty of exercise in cloudy skies, picking up the wickets of David Warner (38), Usman Khawaja (42) and Steve Smith (26).
But patient Labuscane remained unfazed as the hosts defeated the visitors by 360 runs in Perth and looked to seal the three-Test series.
Pakistan paceman Hasan Ali, who removed Khawaja, said, "It was a good day for the bowling department. We were a bit unlucky not to get more wickets." ``I think we have a bit of a lead over them and we're looking forward to tomorrow.''
Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch suitable for seamers.
Led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, they bowled a good distance and grabbed the momentum from the beginning.
"(We're) OK. One less wicket would have been great for him, but the way Pakistan bowled is commendable. They bowled great channels," Warner said.
"But I think we'll be in a pretty good position tomorrow.
Warner, who scored 164 in the first innings of the walk-off Test series in Perth, was dropped to two by Abdullah Shafiq at second slip. Achieved by the one who takes the regulation catch.
He was lucky to run away with the lead, overcome the slide and reach the boundary on the 17th.
In the final over before lunch with Babar Azam, part His luck ended when a hurried shot by Time's spinner Agha Salman caught the hook and slid off the thick outside edge.