Australian skipper Pat Cummins produced a brilliant late spell during the Boxing Day Test to destroy Pakistan’s resistance on day two and swing momentum back firmly in the host’s favour.
The Aussies were skittled for 318 in the morning after a spirited extended session from the visitor’s pace attack, before a promising 90-run partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Shan Masood forced the home side to toil in the field. Yet Cummins persisted and once again proved why he is one of, if not the best, bowler in the world.
Pat Cummins produces magic spell to swing Boxing Day Test in Australia's favour
The captain produced an individual piece of magic to remove Shafique for 62, with the opener's dismissal sparking a post-tea collapse from Pakistan that has them precariously placed on 6-194.
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In his next over after removing Shafique with a caught and bowled, Cummins struck again as he skittled danger man Babar Azam with the ball of the day as the Aussies suddenly sensed their opportunity to attack.
Nathan Lyon chipped in with two wickets of his own, including the scalp of opposition captain Masood after he had just notched his half-century.
However, it was Cummins who will no doubt harbour all of the headlines as he finished the day with figures of 3-37 after also forcing Agha Salman to edge a cover drive behind to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
"I thought we bowled decently before tea without too much reward," the captain told Fox Cricket post-match.
"It was good at the end there to get a few big wickets."
Cummins admitted he felt like he had found his perfect rhythm during the devastating spell, after earlier being left frustrated with a number of near misses and close LBW calls.
“It's one of those things, if you slow everything down and concentrate on rhythm, you actually find a few extra kilometres," Cummins continued.
"There's still enough in it. If you bowl in the right areas, it feels like the odd one will nibble."
In a horror collapse in the final session of the day, Pakistan lost five wickets for just 46 runs with the Benaud-Qadir Trophy now firmly in Australia’s sights after they claimed an opening victory in Perth.