'That was extraordinary': Cricket world stunned by 'bizarre' incident

Cricket fans were left in a state of disbelief on day two of the third Test between Pakistan and Australia after a bizarre incident involving Alex Carey.

Pakistan pace spearheads Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi knocked over eight wickets and restricted Australia to 391 before the home side ended day two of the deciding Test at 1/90 in Lahore.

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The duo led a late reverse-swing charge to close the second session as Australia lost their last five wickets for 71 runs having reached a commanding 320-5 at lunch. Naseem finished with figures of 4-58 and Shaheen 4-79.

At stumps, the game was evenly poised with the series hanging in the balance as Abdullah Shafique, 45, and Azhar Ali, 30, returned to the pavilion five overs early due to bad light.

Earlier in the day, Aussie wicketkeeper-batter Carey couldn't believe his eyes after being given out by umpire Aleem Dar off the bowling of Hasan Ali.

Pakistan thought they had removed Carey for 27 when umpire Aleem Dar gave him out caught behind off fast bowler Hasan Ali but the Australian reviewed straight away.

The replay showed he had missed the ball, which had also not carried to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

The Pakistan quick beat Carey all ends up with a yorker that missed bat, pad and the Aussie's foot as it flew off the pitch and bounced before finding the gloves of Rizwan.

Pakistan appealed and Carey immediately challenged after being given out as confusion set in for viewers and commentators.

"Oh he's given him," commentator Rob Key said. "He's going to review that straight away.

"It didn't look like it was that close to the boot or the pad. It's a bizarre piece of cricket really.

"Very good bowling, but let's just find out."

It wasn't immediately clear whether the Pakistan appeal was for LBW or a caught behind, with replays showing the ball missed absolutely everything.

Dar was forced to reverse his initial decision, giving Carey a reprieve as fans and commentators tried to work out what had just eventuated.

"That is one of the more bizarre passages of play, one of the more bizarre reviews," Key said.

"Missed everything bar the stumps which it looks like it just hit, missed the bat, missed the pad, hit the foot mark or the crease and then just seamed because it was going straight on from middle stump. Somehow it's missed everything."

Former Aussie Test paceman Michael Kasprowicz was also baffled as to what the original appeal was for from the Pakistani players.

"Just wondering what they were appealing for," he said.

"Because the ball actually bounced before it got to the keeper so as far as a noise and thinking it was a catch, it was never that.

Pakistan rally to peg back Australia's advantage

Carey made the most of the reprieve to put the Aussies in a strong position going into day three, despite a late fightback from Pakistan's batters.

Shafique and Azhar had to rebuild after Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was trapped leg-before by Australian skipper Pat Cummins on 11. But the pair looked untroubled, putting on 70 for the second wicket.

Azhar survived a stumping scare while batting on 14 but the review showed his foot was planted well inside the crease after he was beaten by a well-flighted delivery from spinner Mitchell Swepson.

Before Naseem and Shaheen brought Pakistan back into the game, Cameron Green, 79, and Carey, 67, had frustrated the hosts in the morning session, adding an invaluable 135 for the sixth wicket.

Fortunes turned after spinner Nauman Ali had Carey leg-before in the fourth over after the break.

The wicketkeeper-batsman had hit seven boundaries in his 175-minute knock.

Green was then bowled by Naseem after a resolute 223-minute stay intermittently lit up by nine boundaries.

Pakistan were looking to make early inroads at the start of play with the second new ball only five overs in.

But Australia, who resumed at 5-232, took advantage of a placid Gaddafi Stadium pitch to bat through 28 overs unscathed.

Carey took full advantage of his reprieve by smashing spinner Sajid Khan for two boundaries before reaching his third Test fifty with a single.

Australia are on their first tour of Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to tour the country over security fears.

with agencies

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