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Shan Masood Joins Virat Kohli, Imran Khan In Rare Record During Boxing Day Test

image-lqqqzw5xShan Masood in action against Australia at the MCG (AP)

Pakistan captain Shan Masood scored a rapid 60 for his side on Day 4 of their MCG Test against Australia. The innings marked his second half-century of the match, and also the ninth of his overall Test career. Despite his best efforts with the bat, Pakistan fell 79 runs short of their target to go 0-2 down to the hosts in their three-match series ‘Down Under’.

Regardless of the overall outcome, Masood managed to attain a significant batting milestone through the course of his twin 50-plus scores at the MCG, joining the likes of former Pakistan captain Imran Khan and Indian legend Virat Kohli in the process.

Shan Masood joins Imran Khan, Virat Kohli

Up against Australia’s first innings total of 318, Shan Masood also packed 54 runs with the bat on Day 2 before his side ended up conceding a handy lead to the hosts. While chasing 317 runs on the fourth day, the elegant left-handed batter belted another 60 runs from just 71 balls, before his dismissal at the hands of rival skipper Pat Cummins triggered a colossal batting collapse within the Pakistani camp.

Regardless, Masood has now become the first Pakistan captain since Imran Khan (1983) to score two half-centuries in a single Test match in Australia. Khan and Hanif Mohammad (1964) were the only two Pakistani skippers to have previously registered twin fifty-plus scores in an away Test match against the Australians.

Moreover, the current Pakistan captain also became the first visiting player since Indian legend Virat Kohli to hammer two half-centuries against Australia in a single Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Back in December 2014, Kohli had packed scores of 169 and 54 against the hosts.

Shan Masood will now lead Pakistan in the final Test of their three-match series against Australia at the SCG. The much-awaited contest will be played between January 3 and January 7.