Australia All out for 127 Mohammad Asif gets six

Sydney: Mohammad Asif made an astounding comebcak to international cricket as Australia were dismissed for 127 in the first innings of the second Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground here on Sunday.

Asif returned his career best six for 41 runs. The hosts, after electing to bat in rain-delayed match, lost their first two wickets for three runs.

Mohammad Sami got rid of Phillip Hughes who had replaced an injured regular opener Simon Katich for the game. Skipper Ricky Ponting was the next man to go. Both fell for duck as the visitors exploited the wet condition due to overnight rain to the hilt.

Sami struck again soon to send the other opener Shane Watson back to pavilion. As the Australians were struggling to recover from the top order collapse, comeback man Asif struck at regular intervals, thus not allowing any opportunity to the hosts to settle in the middle.

Michael Clarke fell first to Asif who dealt a double blow in the 22nd over to get rid of Mike Hussey and Marcus North. Hussey was the top scorer for Australia with 28 runs.

Asif got rid of three more in Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz and Mitchell Johnson. Umar Gul claimed the last wicket of Bollinger.

Hauritz and Johnson put up a brave resistance adding 44 runs for the eighth wicket partnership. But that was not enough to save the hosts in the absence of any formidable fight from the top order.

Australia are leading the series 1-0 after winning the previous match at Melbourne by 170 runs.