Azhar Ali hit his fourth take a look at hundred in opposition to Australia as Pakistan piled on 476-4 earlier than declaring its first innings on the second day of the primary take a look at on Saturday.
Ali missed out on a double century and received dismissed for 185 with Pakistan declaring underneath overcast situations late within the remaining session.
Australian openers Usman Khawaja (5 not out) and David Warner (0 not out) survived the one over from offspinner Sajid Khan to take Australia to 5-0 earlier than the umpires ended the day’s play attributable to dangerous mild with 15 overs nonetheless remaining.
Australia is enjoying its first take a look at in Pakistan in 24 years.
“The plan was to give our bowlers an hour before stumps today and get couple of wickets, but it didn’t work out because of cloud cover,” Ali mentioned. “I hope the wicket will assist spinners in the coming days, but we have to bowl really well to get Australia out.”
Pakistan’s batting involves a detailed after the declaration. It shall be Australia’s flip to bat it out tomorrow. Stay tuned for Day 3! #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/0KY7UBALP7
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 5, 2022
Players from each groups wore black armbands in reminiscence of spin wizard Shane Warne. They lined up earlier than the beginning of play and noticed a minute of silence to mark their respect for Warne, who died of a suspected coronary heart assault in Koh Samui, Thailand on the age of 52.
Offspinner Nathan Lyon bowled the majority of the overs on a gradual wicket devoid of grass however completed with 1-161 off his 52 overs. However, Lyon’s solely wicket got here within the first session on Day 1 when the veteran offspinner had dismissed opening batter Abdullah Shafique for 44 in his eleventh over.
️ Bad mild stops play.
Three strong partnerships helped increase Pakistan’s whole to 476.
Day two ends with a declaration and a batting cameo by Australia. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/AeA7XCYRKc— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 5, 2022
Skipper Pat Cummins took 1-62 whereas part-time legspinner Marnus Labuschagne had Ali dismissed off a top-edged sweep shot within the final session to complete with 1-53.
“When you perform against a top team, it gives you a lot of satisfaction,” Ali mentioned. “I wanted to score a double century and took a chance against a spinner, but unfortunately got out.”
Ali shared a 208-run second wicket stand with Imam-ul-Haq (157), whose wicket was the one one to fall within the first two classes on Saturday when the left hander was trapped leg earlier than wicket by Cummins after lunch.
Azhar returns to the dressing room after an excellent 185-run contribution pic.twitter.com/757hH1lRsn
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 5, 2022
Ali and Imam annoyed Australia with their snail-paced batting by including 57 runs within the first session after Pakistan resumed on the in a single day 245-1 and reached 302-1 with out additional injury.
Australia quick bowlers — Josh Hazlewood, Cummins and Mitchell Starc — examined Ali and Imam with quick pitched deliveries and even received some reverse swing however could not get the pair separated within the first session.
“Credit goes to Australian bowlers,” Ali mentioned. “They bowled with a lot of intent and didn’t allow us to score freely with their reverse swing … but we tried to make up in the remaining two sessions.”
Ali, 64 in a single day, reached his century off 257 balls when he lofted Lyon over mid-on for his eighth boundary after lunch.
Cummins went for an unsuccessful caught-behind tv assessment quickly after Ali had accomplished his century earlier than Imam, resuming on 132 in a single day, performed throughout the road in the identical over and was adjudged lbw.
One-minute silence noticed in Pindi Stadium for Peshawar victims and Shane Warne. #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/5vIspAVmyr
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 5, 2022
Imam’s marathon innings, additionally spanning virtually 9 hours like Ali’s knock, included 16 fours and two sixes and got here off 358 balls.
Ali and Babar Azam accelerated the scoring as Pakistan scored 92 runs within the second session for the lack of solely Imam’s wicket.
Ali confirmed aggression in opposition to quick bowlers and the spin of Lyon after finishing his 100 and reached his 150 off 317 balls with a dozen boundaries and two sixes earlier than he lastly top-edged a reverse sweep to Cameron Green at quick third man. Ali hit an additional three boundaries and a six throughout his 361-ball knock earlier than making an attempt an extravagant shot in opposition to Labuschagne.
“Obviously, there wasn’t much bounce, but I think that’s sort of what (wickets) we can expect here,” Labuschagne mentioned. “The only way you get yourself back into a game like this is by taking it day by day.”
Australia conceded simply 23 runs throughout the 13 overs within the first hour and additional 34 within the second hour.
Babar (36) added 101 runs in a partnership dominated by Ali earlier than he was run out whereas going for a pointless run by a direct throw from Labuschagne from midwicket.
Mohammad Rizwan (29 not out) and Iftikhar Ahmed (13 not out) had been on the crease when the declaration got here.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
