MELBOURNE: Right-arm pacer Hasan Ali, known for his fun-loving nature, once again amused the cricket fans as he engaged in a funny interaction with the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) crowd during the second Test between Pakistan and Australia.

Three overs after Mitchell Marsh’s dismissal, right-arm pacer Hasan Ali was seen orchestrating the lively MCG crowd near the boundary line with stretches and dance moves.

The crowd followed Hasan’s moves in sync, as the fast bowler appeared to be enjoying himself and even gave the crowd a round of applause.

Later, Hasan Ali also gave an autograph to a fan on his forehead.

 

Australia were 187/6 in their second innings at the Stumps on Day 3 with a notable 241-run lead over Pakistan in the second Test.

Wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey (16*) and Mitchell Starc will now resume Australia’s innings on Day 4.

Earlier in the day, Pakistan resumed their innings at 194-6 with Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Aamir Jamal (2) on the crease.

The pair could add 21 runs to their overnight partnership as Pakistan’s batting mainstay Mohammad Rizwan fell victim to Pat Cummins in the eighth over of the day.

He scored an important 42 in 51 deliveries with the help of one boundary and a six.

Aamir Jamal was then joined by Shaheen Afridi at the crease and the duo stitched a vital 25-run partnership, majorly dominated by the latter.

Shaheen scored a brisk 21 off 28 balls and hit four boundaries before Nathan Lyon put an end to his enthralling cameo by trapping him lbw.

Jamal then put together brief partnerships with Hasan Ali (2) and Mir Hamza (2) as Pakistan’s first innings yielded 264 runs in response to Australia’s 318.

He remained unbeaten on 33 off 80 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and a six.

Pat Cummins led the bowling charge for Australia with a five-wicket haul, followed by Nathan Lyon, who picked four.

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Despite a crucial 54-run lead in their arsenal, Australia failed to inflict their dominance over Pakistan and instead got off to a disastrous start to their second innings.

Shaheen Afridi opened the floodgates for Australia with a first-over wicket as he got Usman Khawaja (0) caught behind on the second delivery.

The ace pacer struck again in his next over and got rid of Marnus Labuschagne (4) to dent Australia’s start further.

Mir Hamza soon followed the footsteps of his fellow pacer and he too, struck in quick succession to leave Australia reeling at 16/4.

He castled David Warner (6) and Travis Head (0) on consecutive deliveries when Australia had a narrow 70-run lead.

Smith was then joined by Mitchell Marsh and the pair got Australia going with a massive 154-run partnership which got a lifeline from Abdullah Shafique.

Australia were 46/4 when Aamir Jamal produced a thick edge off Marsh’s bat that went straight to Shafique at the first slip but was put down.

Pakistan had to wait around 35 overs to get a breakthrough as Mir Hamza got Marsh caught in the slips in the 90s.

He remained the top-scorer for Australia with 96 in 130 balls, laced up with 13 boundaries.

Steve Smith shared a brief 18-run partnership with Alex Carey before a sharp-rising delivery by Shaheen Afridi outclassed him soon after his half-century.

He scored 50 in 176 deliveries with the help of three boundaries.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi and Mir Hamza picked three wickets each.

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