[Watch] Babar Azam takes a sharp one-handed catch to deny Usman Khawaja back to back centuries


[Watch] Babar Azam takes a sharp one-handed catch to deny Usman Khawaja back to back centuries

Babar Azam

A stylish one-handed catch by Babar Azam in the slips allowed Pakistan to dismiss the dangerous-looking Australian opener, Usman Khawaja, on the opening day of the final Test between the two nations. Usman Khawaja have looked good in the past, but for the second time in the series, they have crumbled under the nervous nineties.

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Khawaja, who was batting on 91 at the time, attempted to play a flick against Sajid Khan, but he was unable to time the delivery well and ended up edging it to the first slip where Babar Azam was placed. Babar Azam dived to his right and completed a phenomenal one-handed catch to send the set batter packing in the 75th over.

Pakistan Cricket Board posted on Twitter:

Earlier in the day, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore against Babar Azam’s Team. Usman Khawaja (91) and Steve Smith (59) were the top performers with the bat on Day 1, but the hosts fought back in the final session by claiming three crucial wickets post Tea. Australia have posted 232 runs after losing five wickets after the first day of the series decider. Left-arm seamer Shaheen Afridi helped Pakistan off to a stellar start by dismissing David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne early. Apart from Afridi, right-arm pacer Naseem Shah also chipped in with two wickets, while Sajid Khan finished the day with a single wicket to his name.

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Both teams are looking to secure a victory in the third Test as they attempt to end this historic series. The Test rubber will be followed by three ODIs and a standalone T20I.

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Updates to the WTC points table for 2021-23

Australia takes the top spot in ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 points table. Australia has a PCT of 71.42. Out f 7 Tests so far, Australia has won 4 and drawn 3. They are followed by Pakistan on the 2nd spot. Babar Azam led Pakistan has a PCT of 61.11. Out of 6 matches so far, Pakistan has won 3, lost 1, and drawn 2.

South Africa takes the 3rd spot in ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 points table. Out of 5 games, South Africa has won 3 and lost 2. India grabs the 4th spot in ICC World Test Championship points table. India has played 11 matches so far. They have won 6 matches, lost 3, and drawn 2. With a PCT of 58.33, they take the 4th spot in the points table.

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Sri Lanka takes the 5th spot in the points table. They recently lost to India 2-0 in a Test series. They have a PCT of 50.0. New Zealand follows Sri Lanka on the 6th spot with a PCT of 38.88.

Bangladesh and West Indies have the 7th and 8th spot respectively in World Test Championship points table. Both the teams have a PCT of 25.0. Both of them have played 4 matches, winning 1 and losing 3. England takes the last spot in World Test Championship 2021-23 points table. Out of 11 matches, England has only won 1 and lost 6. Their 4 matches ended in a draw. They have the least PCT of 13.64.

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