Pakistan vs Australia 2018: Twitter Reacts as Bilal Asif Triggers Australia Collapse

Australia’s trouble in the game of cricket continues in Dubai as well. They were punched back by the brilliance of the debutant, Bilal Asif in batting-friendly conditions in the first Test. Earlier, Bilal Asif’s inclusion in the Pakistan team raised a lot of controversies, as few analysts felt, he doesn’t have enough goods with him to deliver in the Test format.

However, Asif answered all the critics with his performance. He rattled the wickets of Australia in quick succession to put Pakistan on top of the game. However, Bilal Asif picked up a six-wicket haul to his name.

Bilal Asif’s magic turns it for Pakistan:

Initially, it was all about Australians on day three of the game. Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja batted superbly to keep Pakistani fielders chasing the leather more often than not. The duo walked back to lunch without hurting Australia in the wickets column.

However, it was Bilal Asif, who picked the debutant Aaron Finch to give the breakthrough for Pakistan. Then came Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Marsh to the crease, who also walked back without troubling the scorers.

They were quickly followed by Travis Head, who registered a golden duck on his debut. Usman Khawaja, the highest run-scorer for Australia in the innings missed his century by just 15 runs.

All of a sudden, the scorecard which read 142/1 fallen down to 183/7 in a matter of time. Bilal Asif, who is making his debut at the age of 33 years marked the occasion with the six-wicket haul. On the other hand, Muhammed Abbas’s four-for helped Pakistan fold Australia for 202.

Earlier, Pakistan registered a massive 482-run tally on the board with Mohammed Hafeez, Haris Sohail knocking centuries to their name. Imam Ul Haq and Asad Shafiq too recorded fifty plus totals.

Here are the best tweets:

Bilal Asif:

Some said he's not good enough.
Some said he's too old.
Some said he's not a Test match bowler.
17-7-28-4#PAKvAUS #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) October 9, 2018

To (Bilal) Asif the headlines, to Abbas the ?. He's been so, so, so, so, so good right through this innings. Effectively a spinner tying up one end.

— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) October 9, 2018

Oldest debutant to take 5-wicket haul in Tests

33y 13d – Bilal Asif, TODAY vs AUS, Dubai
31y 335d – Tanvir Ahmed, vs SA at Abu Dhabi, 2010
31y 263d – Dilip Doshi, vs AUS at Chennai, 1979#PAKvAUS #AUSvPAK

— Abhishek Kumar (@abhik2593) October 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/IManishh10/status/1049622917238145026

At the age of 33years and 13days, Bilal Asif is oldest Pakistani to claim 5 wickets on a Test debut. Overall, he’s 11th Pakistani bowler to get 5 wickets on test debut.
He had almost quit cricket some five six years ago but was mentored by Shoaib Malik to keep trying.

— Faizan Lakhani (@faizanlakhani) October 9, 2018

All the journalists must be covering their eyes in horror. Bilal Asif has taken 5.

— HA (@deprehassan) October 9, 2018

Couple of days ago Dr NN said on what basis is Bilal Asif selected? Is it just because Shoaib Malik is his supporter? Even I could have been selected for Pakistan had I been an off spinner that’s how bad this selection is

— kashif choudhry (@kas_hii) October 9, 2018

What a turnaround by the 33 year old debutant Bilal Asif. It's never too late. #PAKvAUS

— Parag Bhandari (@Paragbhandari1) October 9, 2018

Pitch was very good untill Aussies list their first wkt ??

Well biwled bilal asif

— Sohail Ahmed (@Engr_Sohail_A) October 9, 2018

Bilal Asif picks up a five wicket haul ?? pic.twitter.com/uVlkZLlp1U

— Muneeb Farrukh (@Muneeb313_) October 9, 2018

Have been saying all along – MUST play an off spinner in test matches – specially one who can actually turn the ball! Take a bow #BilalAsif #PakvAus

— Unprecedented (@soft_signal) October 9, 2018

Bilal Asif Shutdown his critics by surprising them with 5 wickets. #BilalAsif

— Ahmad Raza (@TheAvidAhmad) October 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/adeelshirazi/status/1049618456998539264

"Bilal Asif" congrats we proud of you keep it up.??

— Tammba Gaming (@TammbaGaming) October 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/KrTasleem/status/1049615088892735488

In the space of 5yrs Bilal Asif's gone from quitting cricket for a job in the gulf to coming back to the Sialkot club scene, being mentored by Shoaib Malik up to domestic cricket, leading to him playing for Pak as a t20 specialist, getting banned & now back in the Gulf for this.

— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) October 9, 2018

Bilal Asif 5er in debut
Imam takes 3 catches
Yeh subah bari haseen hai.#PAKvsAUS #testcricket

— KarachiQueen?? (@Frabiya) October 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/Gulgoona1/status/1049624867157499904

Never seen Australia collapsed like this ever before May be they are short of some quality players but all the credit goes to debutant Bilal Asif and Muhammad Abbas the way they bowled is just magnificent and for sure Fielding has been impressive so far.

— Dr. Malik Gul (@gul_awan) October 9, 2018

wonder what would have happened if #hafeez & #bilalasif bowled in tandem !

— shujat ali (@shujatali) October 9, 2018

6 wickets for our New Star @bilalasif2411 on his test debut!

What a day he has had on the field! Well done, Champ! ?#PAKVAUS #BilalAsif pic.twitter.com/NqWqjedXtB

— Muhammad Javed (@Muhamma35202832) October 9, 2018

@bilalasif2411 – This has been Bilal Asif’s day. What a dream debut for him as he picks up six wickets and there is still one more innings to go #PAKvAUS Australia all out for 202.#MB #Malik #SpinnersDreamDebut pic.twitter.com/d0ADYNpwDa

— MB Malik (@MBMalikOfficial) October 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/SPNSportsIndia/status/1049633255702425601

Outclass performance by men in Greens…!!! What a collapse Australia bowled out on 202 from 142/1 to 202/10; credit goes to the debutant #BilalAsif and #Abbas good seemer #PakvsAus

— Zain Zulqarnain Malik Awan (@z4zaini) October 9, 2018

Brilliant bowling by Abbas and Bilal Asif ?
A lead of more than 280
We should now score runs with quick pace till tea tomorrow and declare the innings
Game is in our hands now
Come on #Pakistan #PAKvAUS #AUSvPAK

— Muhammad Bilal (@itsmbilal) October 9, 2018

6 wickets for our New Star @bilalasif2411 on his test debut!

What a day he has had on the field! Well done, Champ! ?#PAKVAUS #BilalAsif pic.twitter.com/NqWqjedXtB

— Muhammad Javed (@Muhamma35202832) October 9, 2018

#BilalAsif picks up his maiden six wickets on debut and starts his test career on his age of 33. The hero of the innings of #Pakistan gave #Australia a knockout blow with #MohammadAbbas. So, Pakistan didn't enforce the follow-on in this heat. Great decision indeed! #AUSvPAK #ICC

— ???? ?????? ?? (@abirrahmanorko) October 9, 2018

https://twitter.com/im_dhoni7/status/1049632264315912192