Misbah hails crushing victory over Australia

DUBAI: Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq hailed his side´s first Test victory over Australia in Dubai on Sunday as "one of the finest wins" but added his team needed to remain focused to win the series.

Pakistan thrashed Australia by 221 runs on the fifth and final day with just 21.5 overs remaining in the game.

Australia were dismissed for 216 after left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar took 5-74 and leg spinner Yasir Shah finished with 4-50 to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Misbah said the win was the second best behind a 3-0 rout of the then world number one team England in the United Arab Emirates in 2012.
"It´s difficult where to rank this win but it is one of the finest victories," said Misbah after the match.

"I always rank 3-0 against England at the top but after that this is a big achievement, also as captain.

"We will try to do this again and try to focus more and are determined not to be lazy against a team like Australia who always look for an opportunity," said Misbah.

Pakistan will look to win or avoid defeat in the second Test, starting in Abu Dhabi on October 30, to seal their first series victory against Australia since 1994.

Misbah said the win was an achievement in the context of Pakistan´s 2-0 defeat in Tests in Sri Lanka and 3-0 humiliation in the preceding one-day series against Australia.

"Of course, a victory against any side is always important in a Test, especially against Australia and in the context that we were playing before, the last series (in Sria Lanka in August) then we lost the one-days and the Twenty20 and also not having your regular players here," said Misbah.

Pakistan were without their ace spinner Saeed Ajmal, suspended for an illegal bowling action last month and injured frontline seamers Junaid Khan and Wahab Riaz.

Misbah praised Younis Khan, the man-of-the-match. "He is a legend," said Misbah of Younis who made twin centuries in the Test. "He is a role model for the youngsters."(AFP)