Aussies manage a miracle

The Bunyip · January 6, 2010

The Sydney Cricket Ground is fast becoming the ground for cricket miracles, as once again Australia managed an against the odds triumph to take a 2-0 series lead.

Australia managed memorable wins at the venue against India and South Africa in consecutive years, but captain Ricky Ponting rated this as the best.

And when you look at the stats, it's hard to argue. It was only the third time in Australia's Test history that the side had won after being 200 runs or more behind on the first innings.

The hosts had been routed for just 127 on the opening day, having perhaps foolishly chosen to bat on a green deck, but still emerged with a 36-run win within four days.

Even at the start of the fourth day, Australia's chance of winning had all but gone (though bookies, perhaps anticipating a Pakistan choke, offered stingy odds). With just two wickets in hand, Australia's lead was an uncomfortable 80.

Yet field placings and tactics that beggared belief from Pakistan skip Mo Yousuf helped Australia set the visitors are far more challenging 176 to win.

Too challenging, it proved, as Nathan Hauritz again showed just how much he'd improved by picking up a five wicket haul.

The remarkable result made Ponting's decision to bat, ridiculed in the press, look like a stroke of genius. "Can everyone (who said Australia should have bowled first) put their hands up please? I feel better now," he said to the media.

As well as Hauritz, Australia's charge for victory was helped largely by Mike Hussey (and buttergloves Kamran Akmal), who scored his first century since The Oval. This time the knock wasn't in vain.

Full story

izzy isma · January 6, 2010

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can the pakis loose??????????????????????????????????????

chakdephate · January 6, 2010

fail pakistan...thats not even poor thats just downright rubbish

usydaman · January 6, 2010

Pakistan should stick to ODIs andT20s, My club could beat the Aussies from that position

desia · January 6, 2010

how could Pakistan of lost that match??????????

umair_n · January 6, 2010

its pakistan habbit to lose win matches.look at the past 4 to 5 matches all matches pakistan can win but they make a record to lose the match with big difference.enjoy pakistan big defeat.shame of u all...change the team for odi.and also for test.

AussieBlood · January 6, 2010

Wooooo GO THE AUSSIES

See this proves it the pakis have nothing

smiller · January 6, 2010

Go the aussies

----------

Aussie aussie aussie

currysauce · January 6, 2010

The Pakis should have won-they were in a gr8 postion, but the pakis always lose like this- stupidly. It is their habit.
" Hooray" for the Aussies. They deserved to win.

bANGAD · January 6, 2010

Aussie were always going to win with Phillip Hughes

January 6, 2010	#1
The Bunyip Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 23 Posts: 935 Blog Entries: 60	The Sydney Cricket Ground is fast becoming the ground for cricket miracles, as once again Australia managed an against the odds triumph to take a 2-0 series lead. Australia managed memorable wins at the venue against India and South Africa in consecutive years, but captain Ricky Ponting rated this as the best. And when you look at the stats, it's hard to argue. It was only the third time in Australia's Test history that the side had won after being 200 runs or more behind on the first innings. The hosts had been routed for just 127 on the opening day, having perhaps foolishly chosen to bat on a green deck, but still emerged with a 36-run win within four days. Even at the start of the fourth day, Australia's chance of winning had all but gone (though bookies, perhaps anticipating a Pakistan choke, offered stingy odds). With just two wickets in hand, Australia's lead was an uncomfortable 80. Yet field placings and tactics that beggared belief from Pakistan skip Mo Yousuf helped Australia set the visitors are far more challenging 176 to win. Too challenging, it proved, as Nathan Hauritz again showed just how much he'd improved by picking up a five wicket haul. The remarkable result made Ponting's decision to bat, ridiculed in the press, look like a stroke of genius. "Can everyone (who said Australia should have bowled first) put their hands up please? I feel better now," he said to the media. As well as Hauritz, Australia's charge for victory was helped largely by Mike Hussey (and buttergloves Kamran Akmal), who scored his first century since The Oval. This time the knock wasn't in vain. Full story Attached Thumbnails

January 6, 2010	#2
izzy isma n00b Join Date: Oct 2005 Age: 12 Posts: 7	No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can the pakis loose??????????????????????????????????????

January 6, 2010	#3
chakdephate Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 32	fail pakistan...thats not even poor thats just downright rubbish

January 6, 2010	#4
usydaman Lurker Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 15 Posts: 3	Pakistan should stick to ODIs andT20s, My club could beat the Aussies from that position

January 6, 2010	#5
desia Lurker Join Date: Mar 2008 Age: 28 Posts: 3	how could Pakistan of lost that match??????????

January 6, 2010	#6
umair_n Lurker Join Date: Jul 2007 Age: 22 Posts: 1	its pakistan habbit to lose win matches.look at the past 4 to 5 matches all matches pakistan can win but they make a record to lose the match with big difference.enjoy pakistan big defeat.shame of u all...change the team for odi.and also for test.

January 6, 2010	#7
AussieBlood Lurker Join Date: Dec 2009 Age: 20 Posts: 1	Wooooo GO THE AUSSIES See this proves it the pakis have nothing

January 6, 2010	#8
smiller Lurker Join Date: Jun 2009 Age: 13 Posts: 1	Go the aussies ---------- Aussie aussie aussie

January 6, 2010	#9
currysauce Lurker Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1	The Pakis should have won-they were in a gr8 postion, but the pakis always lose like this- stupidly. It is their habit. " Hooray" for the Aussies. They deserved to win.

January 6, 2010	#10
bANGAD n00b Join Date: Jan 2009 Age: 11 Posts: 7	Aussie were always going to win with Phillip Hughes