- Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Pakistan cornered Australia by reducing them to 16 for 4 before Mitchell Marsh and Steven Smith hit half centuries.
By: Shubham Ghosh
THE third day of the ongoing second Test match between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground remained witness to a bizarre incident. The beginning of the second session of the day got delayed, not because of rain or any player’s injury or any technical issue but because the match’s TV umpire was stuck in an elevator.
Richard Illingworth, who is officiating the game from the boxes, could not arrive on time for the session to kick off and it saw the two on-field umpires and even some players having cheeky smiles.
Cricket.com.au posted a picture of Illingworth’s empty seat and the two on-field officials — Michael Gough and Joel Wilson — having a laugh.
The game is delayed because the third umpire … is stuck in the lift #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/eSuKyPQp56
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2023
Cricket.com.au also posted a video of Illingworth getting back in his seat eventually, looking a bit exhausted. The commentators were heard discussing whether the Englishman took the stairs after the incident. The 60-year-old umpire, however, waved his hand at the crowd with a smile, acknowledging that he was part of something unusual.
A wild Richard Illingworth appeared! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/7Rsqci4whn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 28, 2023
On the ground, Australia staged a strong comeback after a spirited Pakistan bowling attack left them reeling at 16 for 4. Mitchell Marsh (96) and Steve Smith (50) added 153 runs for the fifth wicket to take the home side to 187 for 6 at stumps on Day 3, extending the lead to 241 runs. Pakistan will rue the dropped catch of Marsh in the slips as that could further reduce Australia to 46 for 5.
Pakistan were all out for 264 in their first innings, conceded a crucial 54-run lead to the hosts, who won the first Test in Perth by 360 runs.
