Pakistan captain Babar Azam hit a career-best 196, Rizwan an unbeaten 104 as Pakistan completed with a preventing 443/7
Pakistan captain Babar Azam hit a career-best 196, Rizwan an unbeaten 104 as Pakistan completed with a preventing 443/7
Pakistan captain Babar Azam hit a career-best 196 earlier than the tailenders hung in to flee with a draw within the second Check in opposition to Australia on Wednesday.
Veteran off-spinner Nathan Lyon grabbed three late wickets to complete with 4-112 however Pakistan vice captain Mohammad Rizwan thwarted Australia with an unbeaten 104 off 177 balls to information Pakistan to 443-7 in a sensational final hour on the ultimate day.
No. 9 batter Nauman Ali efficiently defended 18 balls with out scoring and noticed off the final eight overs with Rizwan after Pakistan had slipped to 414-7.
With 13 overs left within the sport, Lyon made inroads into Pakistan’s decrease order when Babar gloved a catch near the wicket after defying Australia along with his knock off 425 balls over 10 hours.
“The plan was to only play out session by session and lift huge partnerships,” Babar stated. “I had a agency perception in our tailenders and I used to be assured we’ll save the sport.”
Left-hander allrounder Faheem Ashraf edged a low catch within the slip off Lyon’s subsequent supply and Sajid Khan additionally supplied a tame catch to Smith earlier than Rizwan and Nauman batted patiently.
Debutant legspinner Mitchell Swepson (0-156) had offered Australia with one other probability with 19 balls left within the sport, however Usman Khawaja dropped a low catch off Rizwan at quick further cowl.
Rizwan raised his deserved century by hitting Lyon for 2 boundaries on both aspect of the wicket within the penultimate over earlier than working a single to succeed in the three-figure mark.
“We didn’t suppose a lot about chasing as soon as we misplaced three fast wickets,” Babar stated. “Credit score goes to the entire staff, particularly the best way Rizwan and Shafique batted in opposition to each the brand new and outdated balls.”
Babar’s marathon effort, throughout which he hit 21 fours and a straight six, was the best ever by any captain within the fourth innings of a Check match and surpassed Michael Atherton’s 185 not out in opposition to South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995.
Babar shared two stable stands on the final day, including 228 runs with Abdullah Shafique (96) after which, after dropping Fawad Alam within the second session, batted with Rizwan so as to add additional 115 runs.
It was a outstanding escape by Pakistan on the fortress of its Check venues — the Nationwide Stadium — when it was out for 148 within the first innings on the third day in opposition to the reverse swing of Mitchell Starc and conceded a large 408-run lead.
Australia then stretched its result in 505 earlier than declaring its second innings at 97-2, however its bowlers couldn’t rattle the boldness of Babar, who batted nearly 5 classes and denied the guests from taking a 1-0 lead within the three-match sequence.
“We had been forward of the sport a lot of the instances,” Cummins stated whereas additionally praising the hassle of spinners Lyon and Swepson. “We created couple of half probabilities, however couldn’t seize it.”
Babar stayed agency and blunted the reverse swing of skilled quick bowlers Pat Cummins (2-75) and Starc (0-58), whereas additionally negating the spin risk of Lyon and Swepson for a lot of the final day.
Australia had its probabilities to dismiss Babar however Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne dropped two sharp catches near the wicket off Swepson’s successive deliveries earlier than tea simply after the Pakistan skipper had surpassed his earlier take a look at better of 143 made in opposition to Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in 2020.
Cummins received each wickets on both aspect of the primary two classes after Pakistan resumed on 192-2 with Babar resuming on 102 and Shafique on 71.
Shafique grinded out Australia’s bowlers for nearly eight hours. When it seemed like Pakistan will go unscathed at lunch, Cummins received the breakthrough within the penultimate over.
Shafique, who hit his maiden Check century within the drawn first Check in Rawalpindi, gave a wholesome edge to Smith at first slip, who had dropped a sitter when Shafique was on 20 on Day 4.
Babar continued to dominate each tempo and spin and in addition survived the quick pacey spells of Starc and Cummins, who couldn’t get sufficient swing to hassle the batters with the second new ball simply two overs outdated when the day started.
The third and remaining take a look at begins in Lahore on Monday with the sequence nonetheless at 0-0.
