Veteran batsman Azhar Ali and opener Imam-ul-Haq scored big hundreds to help Pakistan dominate Australia Saturday on the second day of the opening Test in Rawalpindi.
Veteran batsman Azhar Ali and opener Imam-ul-Haq scored big hundreds to help Pakistan dominate Australia Saturday on the second day of the opening Test in Rawalpindi. Azhar knocked 185 and Haq a career-best 157 to guide Pakistan to 476-4 against a hapless Australian attack on a placid and unresponsive Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch. Skipper Babar Azam declared the innings an hour before close in the hope of an early wicket, but Australia closed the day on five without loss after bad light ended play with 15 overs remaining. Left-handed opener Usman Khawaja scored five, while David Warner was yet to get off the mark.
Australia will need another 272 runs to avoid the follow-on against Pakistan’s wily spinners who are used to the pitch conditions.
The day began on a sombre note as players paid tribute to the legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne, who died of a suspected heart attack in Thailand Friday, with a minute’s silence.
Players from both teams also wore black arm bands, while the handful of early-morning spectators in the stands also stood in respect.
Pakistan added just 57 runs at snail’s pace in the morning session.
Haq was the slowest of the Pakistan pair, adding just six runs in the first hour and not hitting a boundary until the 90th minute.
He was lucky to survive a caught-behind appeal on 143 off Lyon that the Australians didn’t challenge, when replays showed it hit the bat.
But Azhar put on a solid 208-run stand for the second wicket with Haq and then another 101 for the third wicket with Azam, who was run out for 36.
Related: 2nd T20I: Afghanistan Punish Sloppy Bangladesh To Level Series
Azhar was finally caught reverse sweeping part-time spinner Marnus Labuschagne after batting for just four minutes under nine hours.
Mohammad Rizwan (29) and Iftikhar Ahmed (13) remained not out.
For Australia’s pace-cum-spin attack it was a hard toil as Labuschagne (1-53), Cummins (1-62) and Nathan Lyon (1-161) were amongst wickets.
Spearheads Mitchell Starc (0-71) and Josh Hazlewood (0-53) went wicket-less.
Pakistan lost only Imam-ul-Haq in the first two sessions as they added 149 runs after resuming the day on 245-1.
Haq completed 150 before he was trapped leg-before by Cummins soon after lunch.
Haq, who unsuccessfully reviewed the decision, batted for nearly nine hours and hit 16 boundaries and two sixes.
Azhar lifted Lyon towards deep mid-on to complete his 19th century in his 92nd Test — his fourth against Australia in 12 matches.Listen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com
Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998 for security reasons, and on Friday, at least 62 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in Peshawar, about 190 kilometres (120 miles) west of Rawalpindi.
The tourists will play three Tests, as many one-day internationals and a single T20I.
Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2 Highlights: Pakistan Declare At 476/4, Australia Openers Survive Till Stumps
PAK vs AUS1st Test, Day 2 Highlights: David Warner and Usman Khawaja will resume batting on Day 3 for Australia against Pakistan in their ongoing first Test match, in Rawalpindi.
PAK vs AUSÂ 1st Test, Day 2 Highlights:Â Australia’s openers survived till stumps against Pakistan on Day 2 of their ongoing first Test match in Rawalpindi on Saturday. Usman Khawaja (5*) and David Warner (0*) remained unbeaten, facing only one over as Australia posted 5/0 at Stumps. Earlier, Pakistan had declared at 476/4, courtesy of fine centuries by Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali. Opener Imam smashed 157 runs off 358 balls, hammering 16 fours and two maximums. Meanwhile, Azhar registered 185 runs off 361 balls, bagging 15 fours and three sixes. Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Marnus Labuschagne registered a wicket each for Australia’s bowling department.Â
