WATCH: Mohammad Rizwan's Dismissal Erupts Big Controversy as Pat Cummins Reaches 250 Test Wickets

Australia skipper Pat Cummins’ illustrious career year was topped off in the best way possible as the pacer led the Aussies to a thrilling 79-run win over Pakistan in the second Test, clinching the series 2-0 for the home team.

The series victory finished a year in which Australia won the World Test Championship for the first time, retained the Ashes in England and beat India, in India, to win the ODI World Cup.

Cummins was at his absolute best as he wreaked havoc with the ball, clinching back-to-back fifers in the two innings, ending the game with a wondrous ten-wicket haul, leading his side from the front as a skipper does.

Not only was the victory sweet but his eight wicket of the match which was the dismissal of Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan was one for the ages as he bagged his 250th wicket in Test cricket with the same, becoming the 10th Australian bowler to achieve the illustrious feat.

But, the moment was one marred with controversy and despair for Pakistan.

Rizwan had come into the game at a critical moment as Pakistan stood at 131-3, whilst chasing a daunting target of 320 runs, and he instantly got off to a fiery start putting up quick runs in succession and pushing the pace of the game as he notched up 35 runs and seemed to look set.

With tensions high and either side in need of a catalyst to inspire victory, it was indeed the in-form Cummins who stepped up to the plate and took to Rizwan, menacing him.

With the fourth delivery of the 61st over, Cummins bowled a low zipper that merely brushed past Rizwan leaving him speechless as the Aussies appealed loud for the wicket, but were hushed.

Following a review, forutnes turned for Australia as the third umpire overturned the initial decision of not-out to send Rizwan back to the dressing room.

What had left Rizwan, Pakistan and the entire cricketing world puzzled was the manner of decision. It was seen that the ball had made no contact with the gloves but rather Rizwan’s wristband, which was enough for the DRS umpire to overturn the initial call, leaving Pakistan and Rizwan enraged.

Pakistan eventually crumbled for 237 runs as the hosts ran away with a 79-run victory.

After the match, Australia keeper Alex Carey commented on the incident, stating: ” We thought it was pretty clearly off the wristband of the glove…He (Rizwan) probably felt (the ball) obviously on the forearm where the wristband was. It was a pretty crucial wicket to the match scenario. There’s going to be disappointment there. I guess, we can only comment on what we saw.”

In the post-match interview, Pakistan cricket team director Mohammad Hafeez lashed out at the technology and said it is putting a curse on the beautiful game.

“Technology, I’m in favour of that but of it if giving you the benefit, but if it is bringing some doubt and bringing some curse into the game it should not be acceptable by anyone,” Hafeez said in the press conference.

The former Pakistan captain also expressed his apprehensions about the umpire-call on DRS and said he never understood the rule.

“We play this beautiful game of cricket on the basics of the game but sometimes the technology brings some decisions which obviously as a human we don’t understand. Hitting the ball into the stumps (on DRS) is always out. Why is there an umpire’s call? I’ve never understood that,” he added.

At the end of the day, it was Cummins who made all the crucial breakthroughs late in the day as the hosts bowled Pakistan out for 237 to win the Boxing Day test and extend Pakistan’s losing run in Australian Tests to 16 matches.