LATEST UPDATES: Australia lose eighth wicket in 30th over

MELBOURNE: Australia were dominating Pakistan on Monday thanks to a partnership between Steven Smith and Josh Inglis, before Pakistan’s bowlers started to find some success.

Sean Abbott was the latest dismissal, as he was run out in the 20th over. Pat Cummins would hit the delivery from Shaheen Afridi and tried to squeeze out as many runs as he could. Cummins opted for a third run, however Abbott wasn’t anywhere close to making it back in time.

Australia stand at 185 for 8. They need 19 runs from 120 balls.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are currently batting for Australia.

EARLIER:

Australia lost their seventh wicket as Aaron Hardie was dismissed after making 10 runs from 19 deliveries. Mohammad Hasnain got his first wicket of the match as his delivery splayed the stumps and sent the bails flying.

Irfan Khan felt a little cheated after his effort denying a six from Inglis was in vain, as the umpires gave him the runs despite Irfan’s leaping effort to keep the ball from going beyond the boundary. However, Irfan would get his revenge on the very next ball after Inglis smashed a delivery from Shaheen Afridi in Irfan’s direction, and the Pakistani player took an incredible sliding catch.

Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed in the very next over, as Australia lost their fifth wicket. He made 16 runs before being sent off on the 13th delivery he faced. Australia didn’t learn their lesson as they tested Irfan again, who took another fantastic catch at deep third on a delivery from Haris Rauf.

On the very next ball Glenn Maxwell, who had just made his way down to the pitch, was sent right back up to the pavilion. Rauf’s delivery found a thin edge before the ball made its way into Mohammad Rizwan’s gloves.

Earlier, Smith and Inglis were dismantling Pakistan, as their partnership together has made 79 runs off 72 deliveries. However, Smith was dismissed just before making a half century. He fell on the 46th ball he faced, after he slammed a delivery from Haris Rauf straight to Saim Ayub who took a great catch just above his head.

EVEN EARLIER:

Matthew Short was the first to fall for Australia after a delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi. The delivery from the Pakistani fast bowler found the top edge of Shorts bat before being sent to mid-off, where Saim Ayub got underneath it to dismiss the Australian opener.

Jake Fraser-McGurk was sent off next on the last ball of the fourth over. He made 16 runs off 14 deliveries, hitting one four in the process. He was caught out by Irfan Khan on a delivery from Naseem Shah.

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