AUS VS PAK - 1st Test, Pakistan tour of Australia, 2016-17

You really couldn't have asked for anything better. Handscomb's century now seems a century ago. And the folklore of Queensland is sure to have the last two days inscribed in their story books. The swelling Pakistani supporters haven't seemed to tire up and go about their chanting that only seems to get louder. Both sides seem delighted at what has transpired, proud Pakistani faces stud the dressing room and the Aussies have sure managed a jailbreak. Sets up the series perfectly. The big G comes next with all the tradition and the history of the Boxing Day. Find a time machine and get yourself to the 26th of December as soon as you can. Just as we bask in the new found admiration of what has bitten us this morning. That would be all from us, for now. This is Vineet Anantharaman bidding goodbye on behalf of Raju Peethala and Abhishek Chaudhary. Ta ta!!

Steve Smith: "I lost all my fingernails. Some game of cricket, wasn't it? It was hard work and a lot of credit has to go to the way the tailenders played. I thought our bowlers stuck at it all day and that wicket of Asad shows the class of Starc and his character to run in with the 60-over old ball and generate that pace to keep bowling his heart out. Had to keep believing all the time. Eight down and just a wicket away from pulling it off and credit to Shafiq and the tail who pushed us all the way. [About not enforcing the follow on] Wouldn't have changed the approach, would have gone in with the same plan even if I got a chance to go back to day three. Our bowlers had bowled a lot of overs and it gave them a chance to put their feet up for a bit. We wanted to bowl at night and we've seen in day-night cricket that most of the wickets fall under the lights. In the end am happy to have got over the line. Was too close a game for my liking [laughs], an amazing game of cricket, an amazing concept and I am sure the ratings were amazing as well. Day-Night cricket is here to stay for sure. Looking forward eagerly to Melbourne, one of the biggest spectacles in the game for the entire country, the Boxing Day. Was nice to hit the stumps from slip, wasn't sure what Yasir was trying to do out there but was thankfully able to close it out."

Misbah: " [So near] I am very happy. After the first innings when we got out for 142, it looked very difficult for us to come back into this game and am very happy with the way we came back. A lot of positives, Younis getting into form, Azhar Ali doing well at the top, Asad Shafiq playing superbly and the way the taileneders responded was amazing as well. Very proud of this team and our performance in the fourth innings. The hope was always there, I have a lot of belief in this team and that is exactly the reason why we are doing so well in the last six years. Even when Asad fell I was very hopeful. After what we showed in the last couple of days, everyone in the team now has the belief that we could pull things back in the coming matches."

Asad Shafiq, the undisputed Man of the Match: "Yes I feel very proud and was trying hard. Was hitting the ball well in the nets and it was just a matter of time before I had a good innings. Very thankful to all the tailenders who showed a lot of courage, form and from nowhere we almost chased 490. The energy was always there and we were always going to go for the win. Yes it was a brilliant delivery [that got him out] and I wasn't expecting it from him at that stage of the game."

Starc: "They played really well. Full credit to them. We know today, if we got one, eventually we''ll wrap the game. It was tough yesterday. We got the job done, got a couple of days off and then back to Melbourne. It was obviously nice conditions to bat, but once the ball goes soft it was hard for the bowlers. They played really well this afternoon."

Handscomb: "It was pretty tight. There is no such thing as easy win. Pakistan really fought hard and it was great to see. We know we are just one wicket away from sealing the game. Very impressed with Shafiq. Stuck to his guns and played really well. I''m really looking forward for the next game."

Not a millimeter of nail remains to be chewed any further as I ruminate those that went into my tummy yesterday. Without an iota of doubt, the best Test match this brand new innovation has seen. What is it with pink balls, artificial lights and Test matches? And of course Pakistan. They've certainly brought in the drama of the chase, the drama of taking a match to a point not meant for the weak hearted. Mind you, this was after they managed to surrender the first innings in the meekest of ways. And the comeback was typical of Pakistan, at a time and a moment nobody would have given them a stray of grass to make a fist of a chase of 490. But the way the tail did manage to play around Shafiq, who for very good reasons had immense faith in their abilities, did almost pull off a heart-stopper. Until of course Starc and his famed pace came to the rescue. There's no time to grab my breath back as the ever smiling (beaming today) Mark Nicholas is up and ready for the presentation.

Starc to Yasir Shah, out Yasir Shah Run Out!! A direct hit and what an end to an incredible Test match? Completely anti-climactic must admit. But that is exactly how the entire Test match has been. A full swerving in delivery right on the money. Yasir Shah looks happy to have managed to get some bat on it to dig it out and he gifts himself a 'well done with that' stroll in the park outside the crease. The ball in the process rolls to second slip, where Smith grabs the ball and darts it on the stumps. And before he could react, the throw dislodges the timber, before the bat could even think of making its way in. Oh dear. The Test match, after hours of defiance ends in the span of four deliveries. Yasir Shah run out (Smith) 33(66) [4s-4]

Starc to Yasir Shah, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

Starc to Yasir Shah, no run, he doesn't trusts his new man, does he? The shot atleast doesn't suggest so. Makes roon, gets away and looks to mow it away, misses looking strange

Starc to Rahat Ali, 1 run, strays on the pads, and lets the new man off the hook. Clipped away to square leg

Starc to Rahat Ali, no run, 145kph. Bumper to welcome the new man. Ducked inside the line rather awkwardly

Rahat Ali, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Starc to Shafiq, out Caught by Warner!! And the drama is back. Too good even for the man batting on 137. Ferocious, rather violent pace and rear off the surface squeezes out Starc getting in a well-directed bouncer. Perhaps for the first time in the morning. Forces Shafiq to have something to do with it and he once again for the first time in the day, neither ducks nor plays with any sort of control. Ends up looking to get on top of the bounce and then looks to leave it alone, ends up getting it off his glove as the ball lobs up in the air to gully, where the ever dependable Warner backtracks and takes it right above his eyeline. A delightful knock comes to an end courtesy a brute. Shafiq c Warner b Starc 137(207) [4s-13 6s-1]

Starc to Shafiq, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Starc to Yasir Shah, 1 run, milks the single. Waits for the ball to get to him and milks it to cover with the softest of pushes. Get the field up Smith!

Hazlewood to Shafiq, FOUR, and he inches closer. Wide, short and gleefully dispatched with a fierce cut possessing all the timing to ensure that it rolls into the fence square of the wicket. 42 runs needed

Hazlewood to Shafiq, no run, and the resistance of the flirt ends. Hazlewood gets it in his trademark channel just outside off with decent nip which only he has found all morning. An aimless, rather unnecessary poke. Rides his luck

Hazlewood to Shafiq, no run, floats it wide outside off playing around with the patience. And he holds on to it to leave it alone

Hazlewood to Yasir Shah, 1 run, walks forward to the pitch of the delivery and with a nonchalant whip gets it in front of square on the leg-side