Admit it, you were entertained by Pakistan. They may have fallen painfully short of ending 24 years of misery in Australia, but Pakistan kept their long-held status as the most compelling team in cricket after a gripping Boxing Day Test.

In a match full of wild swings, with underdog Pakistan enjoying several stretches of dominance over mighty Australia, the tourists once again – mimicking so many calamities they’ve had over the years – finished rather farcically as they lost by 79 runs.

It was a case of Pakistan being Pakistan, which may have reared the ghosts of the past and caused nightmares for their fans but at least the four days at the famous MCG was a whole lot of fun.

Genuine cricket fans in Australia have long lamented the lack of competitive Test matches in a country where the five-day format is still beloved and attracts big crowds.

After Pakistan were hopelessly overmatched in a dull performance during a first Test thrashing, fans were again bemoaning another likely lacklustre series on Australian soil. No one believed Pakistan could mount a fightback having capitulated to a 15th straight loss in Australia stretching 24 tortuous years.

But unexpectedly, Pakistan mustered a performance that not only tested Australia to the limit but also the human emotions. They were brilliant in stretches – none more so when left-arm quick Mir Hamza bowled David Warner and Travis Head in consecutive deliveries as Australia slumped to 16 for 4 in their second innings with a lead of just 70 runs.

For just a split second, as the collective gasps from the ashen-faced fans reverberated around the terraces, Pakistan dared to dream. Their momentum appeared rampant and their confidence contagious as something special was brewing on a ground which has seen so many epic sporting moments.

Maybe they would end their long-time jinx in Australia in such improbable fashion. But, of course, there’s always a minefield waiting for Pakistan on the cricket field. And at 46 for 4, with Pakistan still on the charge, quick Aamer Jamal produced a thick edge from in-form Mitchell Marsh that flew straight to Abdullah Shafique at first slip.

It seemed to be travelling at slow motion – which was odd considering that Marsh attempted a full-bloodied drive. As the ball hung in the air it felt like this was the moment of the Test match. The moment where Pakistan would either run through Australia en route to arguably their most famous Test win or implode.

But Shafique made a ham-fisted attempt with the ball bouncing off his hands like it had hit a wall. Jamal was exasperated. Pakistan couldn’t believe it. Marsh, a happy go lucky type of guy, sported a grin. The crowd groaned before those renowned rowdy fans in the terraces resorted to bronx cheers.

A distracted Pakistan captain Shan Masoon, no doubt replaying that horrific image of Shafique’s drop on a loop, then on the next ball made a hash of a fielding attempt to gift Marsh a boundary.

It was Pakistan at their worst and a familiar sight for those watching cricket’s most mercurial team over the years. Everyone knew what was about to unfold. Marsh would make a century (he made 96) and Australia would recover to set up a big lead (317 runs) before blowing away their batters (TBC).

But just when you expected Pakistan to sink to despair they mounted a game challenge of a chase that seemed almost impossible on a tough MCG surface and against Australia’s brilliant attack.

Masood played aggressively and led from the front having promised before the series that his team would bat in an attacking fashion. He and talisman Babar Azam appeared to be getting Pakistan into a good position but they both fell and that was that.

But Pakistan weren’t done causing surprises. Mohammad Rizwan and Salman Agha then batted with dare to fluster Australia and start making things interesting. They reduced the target to under 100 runs as the end of day four approached.

It appeared a grandstand finish was in the works as the match would be on a knife’s edge by the close with all the endless possibilities hanging in the air overnight, so tantalizingly in makes five-day Test cricket so beloved even after all these years.

Just when we all got ahead of ourselves, Pakistan issued a reminder of why they’re innately the most baffling team in cricket by conjuring an epic collapse even by their standards.

Rizwan was dismissed 10 minutes before the close in contentious circumstances – expect anything else? – and Pakistan disintegrated from there. By 6.30pm they trudged off the hallowed MCG turf and were left pondering how they had let things spiral so badly.

But we know. They are Pakistan. The most frustrating, but entertaining – sometimes by accident – team in world cricket.

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