PAK draw AUS Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq slams twin century for Pakistan as 1st Test against Australia ends in dull draw on batting PARADISE

PAK draw AUS Highlights: Match Draw– Pakistan openers share an unbeaten 252-run stand on Day 5 of the first Test match against Australia at Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Magnificent innings from both the batters Imam-Ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique saw them build a 250 run partnership with individual tons as the match ended on a tame draw. Follow PAK vs AUS Day 5 Live updates with InsideSport.IN.

Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq notched up tons as the first Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi ended in a draw. Pakistan bowlers continued their momentum from last evening and straight away picked wickets in the morning to end Australia’s innings on 459/10.

PAK draw AUS Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq slams twin century for Pakistan as 1st Test against Australia ends in dull draw on batting PARADISE

Resuming at 449 for 7, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc aimed to take a first-innings lead. To put pressure on the batters, Pakistan started with Shaheen Afridi. However, Nauman Ali, who had already taken four wickets, dismissed Pat Cummins in his first over of the day, completing his third five-wicket haul. Shaheen in the very next over trapped Starc in front, ending his innings on 13. After Nathan Lyon was trapped in front of the stumps while sweeping Ali, Pakistan wrapped up Australia’s innings in the first 20 minutes of the day with Nauman bagging his career-best figures of 6-107.

With a lead of 17 runs in the first innings, Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique once again blunted Australia’s attack in the second innings. On a dead Rawalpindi surface, the batters got off to a good start, as the Australian bowlers continued to struggle to take early wickets.

Imam followed up his maiden Test century with yet another hundred in the second innings. Unlike in his earlier innings, he was in an aggressive mood, charging spinner Nathan Lyon and hitting him down the ground on several occasions. Abdullah, who threw away his wicket on 44 in the first innings, looked solid as Pakistan reached lunch at 76 for 0 with Imam 40 not out and Abdullah unbeaten on 33.

PAK draw AUS Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq slams twin century for Pakistan as 1st Test against Australia ends in dull draw on batting PARADISE

As the second session of the day began, Imam slowly approached his half-century and brought up the landmark with a reverse sweep against Lyon. Abdullah also reached the half-century mark, and the batters continued to stretch their century-opening partnership.

With no expectations from the game, Australia decided to rest their regular bowlers and deployed part-time spinners. The batters continued to pile up runs, taking advantage of the part-timers’ weak deliveries to score runs. With no signs of a declaration, Pakistan reached Tea at 191 for 0 with Abdullah just one run short of his maiden century and Imam unbeaten on 89.

With the result of the match almost certain, the final session of the day began. Abdullah who was in the driving seat throughout the second session of the day brought up his maiden Test century with a single. In hopes of extracting some positives out of the final day and in search of the first wicket, Australia brought their all-rounder Cameron Green into the attack.

Imam on the other end struggled to reach his century, as he survived some close calls and was also lucky to be given not out off a nick on 94. But he ultimately completed his second century with a double over mid-off, becoming the tenth batter for Pakistan to score two centuries in a Test.

The two teams finally shook hands with Pakistan’s score at 252/0. The action will now move to Karachi with the second Test beginning on March 12.

PAK draw AUS Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq slams twin century for Pakistan as 1st Test against Australia ends in dull draw on batting PARADISE

 

All over!

The two teams shake hands as the first #PAKvAUS Test in Rawalpindi ends in a draw 🤝#WTC23 | https://t.co/Ys6nq6wirm pic.twitter.com/Xtwp7uZfey

— ICC (@ICC) March 8, 2022

Pakistan 2nd Innings 252/0 (77 ov)

 

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	WD	NB
Mitchell Starc	24	5	71	0	2.95	0	0
Josh Hazlewood	26	6	53	0	2.03	0	0
Nathan Lyon	52	5	161	1	3.09	0	0
Pat Cummins	28	5	62	1	2.21	0	0
Travis Head	3	0	13	0	4.33	0	0
Cameron Green	15	3	47	0	3.13	0	1
Marnus Labuschagne	12	0	53	1	4.41	0	0
Steven Smith	2	0	5	0	2.50	0	0

A review by Australia for a supposed nick. Umpire remains unmoved yet again. Ultra edge shows no spike. Review wasted by Australia.

Knicked but safe. Imam-ul-Haq kicked the ball which hit his pad and was caught by the short square leg. Huge shouts of OUT, but the umpire doesn’t raise his fingers. Pat Cummins decides not to go for DRS. Later ultra edge shows a kick. Imam gets a lifeline on 94.

100* – It’s a first test century for young Abdullah Shafique on his third test match.

End of Day 5 Session 2

 

Pakistan 459 all out

WICKET! Nathan Lyon attempts the sweep but misses it completely as Nauman Ali traps him lbw.

WICKET! Shaheen Afridi traps Mitchell Starc lbw with a yorker on middle stump.

WICKET! Pat Cummins hits one straight to the man at short cover. Nauman Ali takes five-wicket haul.

FOUR! Pat Cummins times it to perfection through the off-side. Races towards the boundary at point.

Shaheen Afridi to start the proceedings with the ball.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc walk out to bat.

An early start today as live action is all set to begin from 9.45 am Local Time.

Day 5 Session 1

The Test has lost considerable amount of time with bad weather coming into play. The entire first session yesterday was washed out due to wet outfield and play resumed only by 1.30 pm local time. Resuming the day at 269/2, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne continued to build on their overnight partnership. Labuschagne looked good and was unfortunate to miss out on a century as he was dismissed for 90 by Shaheen Afridi. He chased a widish delivery, only to get the edge that was taken cleanly by a diving Abdullah Shafique at first slip.

Also Read: PAK vs AUS Day 4 Highlights: Steve Smith, Labuschagne miss out on tons on rain-curtailed day, Australia still trail by 27 runs – AUS 449/7 at stumps

Travis Head, who came into the crease was soon dismissed by Nauman Ali as he attempted a cut only to get a thick edge to the keeper. Cameron Green then joined Steve Smith and the duo stitched a good partnership that took Australia past 350. Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 61 as Australia went into tea with the score at 364/4.

PAK draw AUS Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq slams twin century for Pakistan as 1st Test against Australia ends in dull draw on batting PARADISE

PAK vs AUS Day 5 LIVE: First Test heads towards a tame draw as Australia trail first innings by 27 runs – Follow LIVE updates.

After the break, the pair built on a 81-run partnership. Batting on 48, Green suddenly hit on straight to Fawad Alam at mid-wicket to miss out on a well-deserved half-century. Nauman Ali then got another breakthrough as Steve Smith was dismissed for 78 after attempting a sweep that took the edge and Mohammad Rizwan, the wicket-keeper completed the catch. Naseen Shah then bowled a peach of a delivery that rattled the stumps to dismiss Alex Carey. Mitchell Starc and skipper Pat Cummins then played out a solitary over before bad light brought the day to curtains. With 90 overs remaining in the contest, a draw has become inevitable. It remains to be seen how the weather plays out tomorrow.

PAK draw AUS Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq slams twin century for Pakistan as 1st Test against Australia ends in dull draw on batting PARADISE

Follow PAK vs AUS Day 5 Live updates with InsideSport.IN.