The fourth ball Warner sliced behind point for what was once a single. His industrious running between the wickets has been as much a part of his plans to unsettle bowlers and fielders as any of the shots he played,and one duly became two.
Warner’s first boundary was also fitting. Among his greatest assets was an ability to turn back-of-a-length deliveries – often dangerous in Australia given the bounce on offer here – into scoring options with his balance,eyes and hands to carve forcing shots through the off side. Hamza was the last new-ball bowler to experience one such delivery being summarily dispatched to the cover rope.
There were creative shots aplenty. One attempted ramp brought no reward,but Warner made life challenging for Pakistani spinners Sajid Khan and Salman Agha by reverse sweeping with alacrity,and then advancing down the track to clip over long-on more than once.
Undoubtedly,Warner’s way has required a modicum of good fortune,and he enjoyed some on his final day also. An inside edge off Hasan Ali slid centimetres past the leg stump;a miscue down the ground narrowly evaded the outstretched hand of mid-on;a Sajid delivery was dug out just before it skidded through to the stumps,and a bat/pad squeeze flew just beyond short-leg.
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Warner,though,has made his fortune by continuing to attack. The times when he has struggled,especially overseas,have generally arrived when he was unable to push himself to do so.
A pair of cracking cover drives,out of the rough from the bowling of Salman,underlined Warner's skill,and delivered him a half century that was met with the warmest of ovations from a crowd that swelled to a handsome 24,220 by the end. In all,125,292 spectators had turned up to a sunny SCG to farewell Warner over four days.
While Marnus Labuschagne's busy and unbeaten 62 ensured that there was no chance of Warner charging to a valedictorian century,the left-hander remained compulsively watchable to the last.
After lunch,Warner survived a Sajid lbw appeal that was found to be umpire’s call on review – more out than Khawaja. With 11 runs to get,he charged at the line but not the length and was nearly stumped.
Warner waves goodbye to the SGC crowd.Credit:Fox Cricket
And finally,Sajid whirred down another slider that struck Warner in front. This time,despite the umpire Michael Gough's not out verdict,ball-tracking confirmed three reds,and Warner spun on his heels after a last handshake from Pakistan's tourists,who have also given him a guard of honour in each innings.
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To be out,lbw,to off spin sliding into Warner's pads was appropriate as a not uncommon mode of dismissal over the years,especially since Stuart Broad was neither still playing Test cricket nor eligible for Pakistan.
It also allowed the SCG to stand warmly to give a last tribute to the man of the moment,as he offered a 360-degree wave of the bat and a smile for Smith,the next man in.