WhatIsTheNews.press

In a bizarre turn of events, the start of play after lunch on Day 3 of the second Test match between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne was delayed. The reason? The third umpire, Richard Illingworth, was stuck in a lift and unable to make his way back to his setup. This unexpected delay left the players and on-field umpires confused until they were informed of the situation. Fortunately, the issue was resolved and Illingworth was eventually able to take his position, allowing the game to continue

The delay seemed to have an impact on Australia's performance, as they lost Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession. Pat Cummins proved to be a formidable opponent, taking five wickets to dismiss Pakistan for 264. Nathan Lyon was also impressive, with four wickets to his name. Despite a valiant effort from the Pakistani tail-enders, Australia maintained a narrow lead of 54 runs in their first innings. With only 15 minutes left in the morning session, Australia faced a challenging task as they tried to negotiate their way through Pakistan's bowling attack

However, their efforts were in vain, as they slumped to 6-2 at lunch. Khawaja was out for a duck, caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan off Shaheen Shah Afridi. Labuschagne followed suit, edging down the leg side to give Rizwan another catch. At the break, David Warner remained not out on one. Pakistan had initially appeared comfortable in their chase of Australia's first-innings total of 318, reaching 124-1

However, a remarkable spell from Cummins in the final session on Wednesday saw a collapse in Pakistan's batting line-up, reducing them to 194-6. Cummins continued to be a key figure in the match on Thursday. After a brief delay due to light drizzle, Pakistan resumed their innings with Rizwan on 29 and Aamer Jamal not out on two. Rizwan started confidently but fell victim to Cummins' clever bowling, edging a drive straight to David Warner at cover. Rizwan departed after contributing 42 runs in a partnership of 45 with Jamal

Afridi, who replaced Rizwan, showcased his attacking style with four boundaries before falling to Lyon's spin, trapped lbw for 21. Meanwhile, Jamal displayed his prowess, scoring 33 not out and hitting the ropes three times in six balls at one point. Cummins continued to wreak havoc, claiming his fifth wicket by dismissing Hasan Ali for two with a delivery that took out Ali's off stump. Lyon also made a significant contribution, taking the wicket of Mir Hamza, who was stumped for two. This wicket marked Lyon's 505th Test wicket, showcasing his skill and experience. Overall, the match between Australia and Pakistan was filled with unexpected events and impressive performances

The delay caused by Illingworth's lift mishap added a unique twist to the game, but it did not deter the teams from showcasing their skills and determination.