ISLAMABAD - Pakistani batters Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique grabbed centuries to end the draw first Test against Australia on a high note at the Pindi Stadium, Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Pakistan finished the second innings on 252 for none on day five, making a lead of 269 runs as the play was called off by both teams. Imam who made a comeback in Tests after more than two years hit 157 in the first innings while remained unbeaten on 111 in the second which included 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Shafique who went unlucky in the first innings on 44, got a chance to hit his maiden Test century in the second innings. He remained not out on 136 runs hitting 15 fours and a six. Imam and Shafique also created history by their opening partnership stands in both innings. They provided a 105 partnership in the first innings while 252 in the second one. Marnus Labuschagne tried to hook Shafique on lbw in the 17th over which looked tight but was given not out. However, Pat Cummins went for the DRS but replay showed that the ball pitched and turned away.
Earlier when Australia started the day five with 449 for 7, Skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc came for some action as pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi took the ball to bowl the first over on the day. Cummins hit a boundary in the same over but was unable to materialize his innings any further as spinner Nauman Ali who was searching for a five-wicket haul after bagging wickets of Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green had some plans in mind. Cummins was out for 8 runs as he was taken by Imam ul Haq to give Nauman his fifth wicket.
Australia was eight down and to add more agony, Afridi bold Michell Starc (13) in his very second over of the day bagging two wickets in the first Test in 30 overs. The last wicket was also picked by Nauman making it a career-best-six for him, when he trapped Nathan Lyon on lbw on 3. Lyon called for the review but it hit middle and off. Australian was all gone for 459 in 141 overs.
Player of the match Imam-ul-Haq said: “The most satisfying feeling to score a hundred in each innings and Australia have a good bowling attack. When you score against the top teams you go one step ahead in your career. Was trying to correct my basics and wait for the loose balls.”
Pakistan and Australia resumed Test battle in Pakistan after a gap of 24 years, with Babar Azam and Pat Cummins leading their sides in the first Test of the three-match Benaud-Qadir ICC World Test Championship series. After the first Test, the tour of Australia includes two more Tests, three ODIs and a T20I from March 12 to April 5. Rawalpindi would also stage three ODIs and a T20 while Karachi and Lahore will host one Test each. The next Test will be played in Karachi from Saturday. Both teams will reach Karachi today (Wednesday).
Scores in brief
PAKISTAN 476 for 4 dec (Azhar 185, Imam 157, Shafique 44, Cummins 1-62, Lyon 1-161) and 252 for 0 (Shafique 136*, Imam 111*) drew with AUSTRALIA 459 (Khawaja 97, Labuschagne 90, Smith 78, Nauman 6-107).
Pakistan finished the second innings on 252 for none on day five, making a lead of 269 runs as the play was called off by both teams. Imam who made a comeback in Tests after more than two years hit 157 in the first innings while remained unbeaten on 111 in the second which included 7 fours and 2 sixes.
Shafique who went unlucky in the first innings on 44, got a chance to hit his maiden Test century in the second innings. He remained not out on 136 runs hitting 15 fours and a six. Imam and Shafique also created history by their opening partnership stands in both innings. They provided a 105 partnership in the first innings while 252 in the second one. Marnus Labuschagne tried to hook Shafique on lbw in the 17th over which looked tight but was given not out. However, Pat Cummins went for the DRS but replay showed that the ball pitched and turned away.
Earlier when Australia started the day five with 449 for 7, Skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc came for some action as pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi took the ball to bowl the first over on the day. Cummins hit a boundary in the same over but was unable to materialize his innings any further as spinner Nauman Ali who was searching for a five-wicket haul after bagging wickets of Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green had some plans in mind. Cummins was out for 8 runs as he was taken by Imam ul Haq to give Nauman his fifth wicket.
Australia was eight down and to add more agony, Afridi bold Michell Starc (13) in his very second over of the day bagging two wickets in the first Test in 30 overs. The last wicket was also picked by Nauman making it a career-best-six for him, when he trapped Nathan Lyon on lbw on 3. Lyon called for the review but it hit middle and off. Australian was all gone for 459 in 141 overs.
Player of the match Imam-ul-Haq said: “The most satisfying feeling to score a hundred in each innings and Australia have a good bowling attack. When you score against the top teams you go one step ahead in your career. Was trying to correct my basics and wait for the loose balls.”
Pakistan and Australia resumed Test battle in Pakistan after a gap of 24 years, with Babar Azam and Pat Cummins leading their sides in the first Test of the three-match Benaud-Qadir ICC World Test Championship series. After the first Test, the tour of Australia includes two more Tests, three ODIs and a T20I from March 12 to April 5. Rawalpindi would also stage three ODIs and a T20 while Karachi and Lahore will host one Test each. The next Test will be played in Karachi from Saturday. Both teams will reach Karachi today (Wednesday).
Scores in brief
PAKISTAN 476 for 4 dec (Azhar 185, Imam 157, Shafique 44, Cummins 1-62, Lyon 1-161) and 252 for 0 (Shafique 136*, Imam 111*) drew with AUSTRALIA 459 (Khawaja 97, Labuschagne 90, Smith 78, Nauman 6-107).