Thanks to a marathon knock by Warner and bowlers give Australia complete control at the end of day 2 of the 2nd Test match played at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Starting on the overnight score of 302 for 1, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne continued from where they left on first day. Warner played with positive intent putting pressure on the listless Pakistan bowling line up. Shaheen Shah Afridi finally got the breakthrough for Pakistan dismissing Labuschagne for 162. Both added 361 runs for the 2nd wicket. Pakistan took the 2nd new ball in the 83rd over, but Warner reached his double century off 260 balls.
Steve Smith joined in the party along with David Warner. Warner smashed the Pakistani bowling line up hitting the gaps and running between the wickets was superb. The explosive left-handed batsman from Australia reached his 250 off 330 balls. Australia went into the Supper break at 475 for 2.
After the break, Shaheen Shah Afridi got his 3rd wicket dismissing Steve Smith for 36. Smith and Warner added 121 runs for 3rd wicket. Warner continued to pile the misery on Pakistani bowling line to reach his triple century off 389. After reaching his triple century, Warner and Wade made quick fire runs to declare their innings on 589 for 3. Warner posted the 2nd highest induvial score by an Australian in Test matches. Wade and Warner added unbeaten 99 runs for the 4th wicket.
Shan Masood survived a close LBW shout as the umpire gave it out. Masood decided to review it and umpire had to overturn the decision because it hit the inside edge. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins troubled the Pakistani batsmen with pace. Starc got the breakthrough dismissing Imam UL Haq for 2. Pakistan went into the dinner break at 3 for 1.
The third session saw Pat Cummins getting the wicket of Pakistani captain Azhar Ali. Babar Azam looked class apart playing on the back-foot. Josh Hazlewood dismissed Shan Masood with a beauty.
Starc was in sensational form dismissing Asad Shafiq, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan to put Pakistan in tatters at 89 for 6. Yasir Shah and Babar Azam survived the day with the score card reading 96 for 6.
Pakistan 96 for 6 in 35 overs ( Babar Azam 43*, Mitchell Starc 4/22) trail Australia 589 for 3 in 127 overs ( David Warner 335*, Marnus Labuschagne 162, Matthew Wade 38*, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/88) by 493 runs.
