New Delhi: The Australian cricket team and the Pakistani cricket team are currently engaged in the Boxing Day Test match at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne.
Australia, while batting first, has taken themselves into a comfortable position at the end of the first day.
Day 1 of the second test match created a number of memorable moments, one of which was Abdullah Shafique dropping the catch of David warner for the second successive test match.
Check out the video below:
David Warner gets a life on two! Shaheen Afridi gets the ball swinging and Abdullah Shafique puts it down at first slip #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/EJc4AptxJk
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 25, 2023
The incident took place during the third over when, on the final ball of the over, Warner edged the ball in the first slip position.
Notably, despite being a sitter, the fielder in the first slip, Abdullah Shafique, dropped the catch, providing Warner with a lifeline.
This is the second time Abdallah Shafique has dropped Warner in the series, with the first instance taking place during the first match.
Warner, unlike the first match where he used the lifeline to complete his century, didn’t do much damage during the second match as he only added 35 more runs to his total before being removed by Agha Salman.
However, the netizens were not ready to let the incident slide as they sparked a meme fest on X (Formerly known as Twitter).
Check out the reactions below:
Abdullah Shafique hai islye Jane diya, imam ul Haq hota tou abi tak galiyan de rahe hote #AUSvsPAK #INDvSA #PAKvsAUSpic.twitter.com/sn3vhq8ci7
— U M A R (@Agrumpycomedian) December 26, 2023
This is the 2nd consecutive test where Abdullah Shafique has given David Warner a life at the slips. Abdullah should be your last choice for first slip when you have Babar, Salman & Saud.#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/XavLigphnQ
— Israr Ahmed Hashmi (@IamIsrarHashmi) December 25, 2023
ABD De Villiers surely not disappoint us with catch dropping ability
Kitabi player kitab parhny k style me catch Dropped kr dyta#AbdullahShafique#AUSvsPAK pic.twitter.com/gDcp1yOXC3
— sarwat.sheikh (@sarwatsheikh1) December 26, 2023
Abdullah Shafique Dropped Warner’s Catch Earlier 💔
Vudeo pic.twitter.com/h4ykSGUw91— Asif Sarwar Malik (@Asif_sarwar_) December 26, 2023
Abdullah shafique Dropped warner On Just 2 Runs ! 🥵🌚 #PAKvsAUS
pic.twitter.com/2dSMlC7AC6— Sidra Rasheed🌝 (@SidRasheeed) December 26, 2023
PCT fans to Abdullah Shafique #AUSvsPAK pic.twitter.com/kb7c6MY3eB
— عاقد (@aquidtweets) December 25, 2023
Again #AbdullahShafique pic.twitter.com/efQfDWRWqH
— Firdous Parray (@firdousparray06) December 26, 2023
Shaheen Afridi is going to get old very soon! Abdullah Shafique is the reason for his premature aging!#AUSvsPAK #INDvsSA #ShubmanGill #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/26orHegz4U
— Umair Mahmood (@its_umair96) December 26, 2023
Abdullah Shafique fielding is a question mark??#PAKvsAUS #AUSvsPAKpic.twitter.com/v5tlWt1VtD
— Hasnain Shah 𝕏 (@shahhasnain77) December 26, 2023
Abdullah Shafique when its comes to taking a sitter: https://t.co/iGBC0qhijB pic.twitter.com/tDKSu0aqaj
— Shayan 🇵🇰 (@StarBoyEditx) December 26, 2023
“Catch Drop” is earmarked with this Pakistan Team. Abdullah Shafique dropped a regulation catch of Warner in the slips. Ian Smith said it looked as if he was standing first time in the slips.#AUSvsPAK | #BoxingDay | #BoxingDayTest pic.twitter.com/oiqg1XoYEm
— Zubair Shakeel Wani (@ZubiTalks) December 25, 2023
As it happened
After winning the first match and taking a 1-0 lead in the series, the Aussies walked into the match to achieve an inaccessible lead in the series.
The Pakistani skipper Shan Masood won the toss and opted to field first.
Australia had a strong start as David Warner (38) and Usman Khawaja (42) added 90 runs for the first wicket.
A few pigeons were behind the bowler – so Marnus Labuschagne and Hasan Ali decided to move them along! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/BI2sGZA0eb
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 26, 2023
Pakistan tried to make a comeback with two quick wickets, but Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Steve Smith (26), formed another good partnership to keep Australia afloat.
Australia finished day 1 with 187 for 3 on the board, with Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Travis Head (9*), on the crease.
Hasan Ali, Amer Jamal and Agha Salman took one wicket each for Pakistan on day 1.
