Australia survive Pakistan scare to win thrilling first Test by 39 runs
Monday 19 December 2016 07:45, UK
Pakistan fell just 40 runs short of a world-record chase as Australia edged to victory in the first Test at the Gabba.
A century from Asad Shafiq took the visitors to the brink of victory and until he was ninth man out for a sublime 137, Pakistan looked to have every chance of claiming a stunning win.
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Shafiq put on 71 for the ninth wicket with Yasir Shah as the tourists frustrated Australia but once he fell, the hosts quickly wrapped up victory in Brisbane.
Pakistan resumed on 382-8 and after adding 69 to their overnight score, Steve Smith's side finally claimed the prized wicket of Shafiq with the visitors requiring just 41 runs to secure an unlikely victory.
Pace bowler Mitchell Starc dug one in short from around the wicket and it caught glove and the shoulder of Shafiq's bat and lobbed up to David Warner in the gully for a simple catch.
Skipper Smith then ended the innings just three balls later when he ran out Shah, who kept out a Yorker from Starc over for Smith to throw down the stumps as the batsman strayed out of his crease to secure a 39-run victory for the hosts.
The second Test between the sides gets underway on Boxing Day in Melbourne.
