50 up for Abbas
Fri 19 Oct 2018
Leicestershire CCC overseas star Muhammad Abbas had another game to remember as Pakistan won the two-match series against Australia by a 1-0 scoreline.
The 28-year-old claimed his maiden ten-wicket match haul in test cricket, doubling his career test five-fors in the process. Abbas picked up five for 33 in the first innings and followed it up with five for 62 in the second.
His test record is absloutely outstanding: 59 wickets in ten matches - seven of which have been played in the UAE or the West Indies - at an average of just 15.64. Abbas has taken five wickets on four occasions and has a further quintet of four-fors to his name.
On day one, Abbas reached the notable landmark of 50 test wickets. It was a brilliant wicket to get too, that of opener Usman Khawaja, whose lengthy innings of 85 and 141 helped his country claim a draw in the first test.
Abbas became the fourth fast bowler in Pakistan history to reach the 50-wicket milestone in his tenth match, following in the considerable footsteps of Waqar Younis, former Fox Mohammad Asif, and Shabbir Ahmed. He was deservedly named man-of-the series after claiming 17 wickets in the two games.
In Pakistan's innings, debutant Fakhar Zaman and captain Sarfraz Ahmed both made 94 to help Pakistan recover from a tricky position of their own at 57 for five to post 286. The duo shared 147 for the sixth wicket to change the first day fortunes.
Pakistan now have two further test series to look forward to. They take on New Zealand in a three-match series starting in mid-November, before travelling to South Africa for three further tests, starting in Pretoria on Boxing Day.
Photo credit: Francois Nel, Getty Images.
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