Pakistan’s aspirations for a maiden Test victory in Australia after 28 years fizzled out swiftly within the opening session of the Pink Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Men in Green found themselves reeling at 47/4 as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood struck early blows, while Pat Cummins dismissed Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel.
This brought Mohammad Rizwan to the crease in a dire situation. Facing a challenging pitch and a precarious team position, conventional wisdom would have seen the experienced Rizwan play cautiously until lunch.
However, he defied expectations and seized a pivotal moment of the day. In the 20th over, Hazlewood charged in and delivered his signature delivery targeting the top of the off-stump, adding to the pressure on the visitors.
Yet, Rizwan preemptively adjusted his stance, crouching noticeably before executing a powerful stroke akin to a combination of a slog sweep, typically used against spinners, and an assertive front-foot pull.
From nowhere! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/dNoLC6OuVK
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2024
The result was remarkable as the ball soared over square leg and landed in the stands, prompting spectators in that section to react with a mixture of amazement and concern, covering their heads.