RAWALPINDI: Imam-ul-Haq cracked a century in each and every innings and his opening spouse Abdullah Shafique hit a maiden hundred as Pakistan’s first house Check towards Australia in 24 years resulted in a tame attract Rawalpindi the previous day. Haq made an unbeaten 111 following up his 157 within the first innings, whilst Shafique completed on 136 as Pakistan have been 252 with out loss when the event ended and not using a end result.
Australia scored 459 in respond to Pakistan’s first innings rating of 476-4 declared. Australia’s first Check on Pakistan soil since 1998 — they in the past declined to seek advice from on safety grounds-was in the long run spoiled by means of a flat Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch.
A blended general of one,187 runs have been scored for simply 14 wickets over 5 days because the famed Australian tempo trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood-with 674 Check wickets between them ahead of this match-got only one extra. With a draw confident, the Pakistan openers took the chance for batting follow forward of the second one Check in Karachi beginning Saturday. In doing so, they turned into the primary Pakistan pair to position on a century opening stand in each innings of a Check towards Australia after teaming up for 105 on Friday.
Shafique changed into the primary to succeed in his century, pushing seamer Cameron Inexperienced for a unmarried to succeed in the mark in 209 mins. In all, he hit 15 barriers and a six. Haq, who changed into enjoying his first Check since December 2019, driven part-timer Travis Head for 2 to finish his century in 276 mins. Their stand is Pakistan’s absolute best for the primary wicket towards Australia in all Exams, making improvements to the 149 set by means of Khalid Ibadullah and Abdul Kadir in Karachi in 1964.
So dominating have been the 2 openers that it turned into best the primary example in 51 years when Australia conceded 100-plus opening stands in each innings of a Check. Geoff Boycott and John Edrich of England have been the ultimate pair to reach the feat towards Australia, in Adelaide in 1971. Previous, left-arm spinner Nauman Ali bowled a nagging line and period to mop up the Australian tail and completed with career-best figures of 6-107 in 38.1 overs-his 3rd five-wicket haul in 8 Exams.
His effort enabled Pakistan to get the ultimate 3 wickets with the addition of simply 10 runs after Australia resumed on 449-7. Nauman-whose earlier preferrred of 5-35 got here on his debut towards South Africa in Karachi ultimate year-dismissed Australian skipper Pat Cummins for 8 and Nathan Lyon for 3 in fast succession. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Starc to complete with figures of 2-88 in 30 overs. – AFP