Opener Imam-ul-Haq hit a memorable first check century on Friday and led Pakistan to a commanding 245-1 in its first dwelling check towards Australia in 24 years. The left-hander closed out the opening day of the primary check on 132 not out on a usually gradual and grassless subcontinent wicket. Veteran Azhar Ali can be trying strong on 64 not out.
“It’s been a tough day for me, but that’s how you progress,” stated Imam, who performed his final check towards Australia in December 2019 earlier than returning Friday to face 271 balls in his marathon comeback innings.
“I was working hard and that’s it,” stated Imam, who hit 15 fours and two sixes. Australia might need missed a trick by opting to go together with its three frontline quick bowlers, who hardly troubled the batters with each the brand new and outdated ball. Australia even used its three part-time spinners _ Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Steve Smith _ with none reward.
“In terms of selection, it’s like any other selection,” Australia’s interim head coach Andrew McDonald stated. “I’d like to think that we can judge (selection) over five days and not in isolation of one day.” Imam and Azhar denied Australia any hope of a breakthrough with the brand new ball within the 10 overs earlier than stumps and stretched their second-wicket partnership to 140.
“I thought Pakistan played really well,” McDonald stated. The lone Australian specialist spinner, Nathan Lyon (1-87), bought the one success of the day for the guests when he dismissed Abdullah Shafique for 44 simply earlier than lunch, however not earlier than a 105-run opening wicket stand with Imam.
Azhar and Imam then annoyed Australia for your entire two periods by piling up one other century stand. Imam, taking part in in his twelfth check however first in 27 months, confirmed grit all through the day towards quick bowlers and spinners after captain Babar Azam gained the toss and elected to bat.
Fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and skipper Pat Cummins hardly troubled Pakistan’s high order of their brief spells as they bowled 45 overs between them. Lyon earlier extracted transient flip off the wicket with the brand new ball however each openers dominated the spinner by utilizing their toes and raised a century stand.
Lyon was ineffective till he claimed Shafique within the penultimate over earlier than lunch. Shafique bought crushed within the flight and tried to heave the offspinner over lengthy off. He was brilliantly caught by a operating Cummins. Imam survived a detailed name for lbw in Starc’s third over because the guests went for an unsuccessful tv assessment and the replays advised the ball would have went over the stumps.
Imam raised his century within the final session when he drove Starc via the covers for his thirteenth boundary beside hitting two straight sixes towards Lyon. Shafique additionally had a detailed name however Head dropped a troublesome probability at leg slip in Lyon’s second over, a ball after the spinner was smacked for a straight six.
Imam had earlier raised his half century by pulling Cummins to sq. leg boundary for a 4 and overtook his batting accomplice as soon as Australia briefly utilized the offspin of Head and Lyon. It’s the primary time Australia has performed a check match in Pakistan since 1998 attributable to considerations over safety from a number of assaults in Pakistan. It’s a three-match check sequence.
Australian gamers wore black armbands as a tribute to Australia’s former wicketkeeper nice Rod Marsh, who died on Friday at age 74.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
