WATCH: Faheem Ashraf takes a one-handed stunner at second slip to dismiss Steve Smith | PAK v AUS
Faheem Ashraf’s participation in the Karachi Test was uncertain after he sustained an injury while playing for the Islamabad United in the 2022 Pakistan Super League (PSL). Thereafter, he missed the opening Test at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium along with Hasan Ali, his teammate in the United. Both Hasan Ali and Ashraf got into Pakistan’s playing eleven for the second Test.
After the Aussies chose to bat first at the National Stadium, Ashraf got a chance to bowl 13 overs. The pacer bowled three maidens, gave away 32 runs and picked up the important wicket of David Warner, who scored 36 off 48 with three fours and two sixes. Ashraf also grabbed the limelight after his stunning catch to dismiss Steve Smith at the fag end of the day’s play.
Smith was batting on 72 and was looking determined to play out the remaining overs. But his concentration wobbled and he got out in the penultimate over of the day. Hasan Ali bowled a length delivery outside the off-stump and Smith tried to chase it down. The batter tried to play a backfoot cover drive and ended up getting a thick outside edge.
Ashraf was standing at second slip and went for the catch. He didn’t have it easy as the ball didn’t rise much and dipped on him. But Ashraf showed great reflexes and pulled off the catch with his left-hand, inches from the ground. The third umpire, Rashid Riaz, took a long time to decide if the catch was legitimate. In the end, Ashraf got Smith’s wicket at the crucial time.
Here’s the video of Faheem Ashraf taking the stunning catch
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Faheem Ashraf
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When Smith came to bat, Australia had lost two quick wickets of Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, who unfortunately, bagged a duck after getting run out. Smith smashed seven fours, but played out 214 balls for his 72, showing a lot of patience and determination. After he got out, Nathan Lyon came out as the night-watchman and played out six deliveries safely.
Usman Khawaja was the star of the show for the visitors as he stayed unbeaten on 127 off 266 balls with 13 fours and one six. Nauman Ali, who got a six-fer in Rawalpindi, couldn’t make a breakthrough.