Abdul Jabbar Faisal
RAWALPINDI:-The first Test match of three-match series between hosts Pakistan and Australia ended in a draw at Pindi Cricket Stadium Rawalpindi on Tuesday, as Pakistan scored 252 runs in their second inning without wasting any batter.
Earlier, Australia scored 459 runs in their first innings with 17 runs deficit. Left arm spinner Nuaman Ali was higest wicket taker bowler with 6 for 107. Afridi got two while Sajid Khan and Naseem Shah shared one wicket each. It was seemed that hosts will set a total for visitor in the last 20 overs less or more to entertain the cricket lovers of twin cities Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Pakistani opener Imam and Abdullah started their second innings carefully and hit some strokes too but run rate was not enough to declare the innings and set a target for Kangaroos. Pakistan scored 252 runs in their second innings in 77 overs and total lead was 269. Abdullah Shafiq was unbeaten with 136 runs, as he faced 242 balls and smashed 15 fours and a single six. His teammate Imam-ul-Haq scored 111 runs and faced 233 balls. He hit 7 fours and couple of six on spin bowlers.
Day-1
First Session: (105 for 1 in 35 overs, Iman-ul-Haq 57 not out & Azhar Ali 0 not out)
Second Session: (171 for 1 in 56 overs, Imam-ul-Hq 92 not out & Azhar Ali 30 not out)
Third Session (245 for 1 in 90 overs, Imam-ul-Haq 132 not out, Azhar Ali 64 not out, Lyon 1 for 87)
Day-2
First Session: 302 for 1 in 115 overs (Imam-ul-Haq154 not out, Azhar Ali 96 not out, Nathin Lyon 1 for 106)
Second Session: 394 for 2 in 142 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 157, Azhar Ali 151 not out, Babar Azam 33 not out
Third Session: Pakistan 476 for 4 declare (Azhar Ali 185, Rizwan 46 and Babar Azam 36)
Day-3
First Session: Australia 138 for 0 (Usman Kawaja 70 runs not out & David Warner 60 runs not out)
Second Session: Australia 222 for 2 (Usman Kawaja 97, Marnus 33 not out, Smith 12 not out)
Third Session: Australia 271 for 2 in 73 overs (Marnus 69 not out, Smith 24 not out)
Day-4
First Session: No play due to wet ground
Second Session: Australia 364 for 4 in 106 overs (Marnus 90 runs, Smith 61 not out, Nauman 2 for 79
Third Session: Australia 449 for 7 in 137 overs (Marnus 90, Smith 79: Numan 4 for 107)
Day-5
First Session: Australia 459 all out in 140.1 overs (Numan Ali 6 for 107)
Second Session: Pakistan 191 for 0 in 55 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 89, Abdullah Shafiq 99)
Third Session: Pakistan 252 runs for 0 in 77 overs (Abdullah Shafiq 136 not out(242 balls, 4X15, 6X1), Imam-ul-Haq 111 (233 balls, 4X7, 6X2)
Brief Scorecard:
Pakistan Batting (First innings) 476 for 4 in 162 overs
Azhar Ali 185 (361 balls, 4X15, 6X3), Imam-ul-Haq 157 (358 balls, 4X10, 6X2), Abdullah Shafiq 44 (105 balls, 4X3) Babar Azam 36 (82 balls 4X3).
Australia Bowling (First innings):
Nathan Lyon (1 for 161), Pat Cummins (1 for 62), Marnus Labuschagne (1 for 53)
Australia Batting (First innigs): 459 all out in 140.1 overs
Usman Kawaja 97 (159 balls, 4X15), Marnus Labuschange 90 (158 balls 4X12), Steven Smith 78 (196 balls, 4X8), David Warner 68 (114 balls, 4X12).
Pakistan Bowling (First innings):
Numan Ali (6 for 107), Shaheen Shah Afridi (2 for 85), Naseem Shah (1 for 89), Sajid Khan (1 for 122)
Pakistan Batting (Second Innings): Pakistan 252 runs for 0 in 77 overs
Abdullah Shafiq 136 not out(242 balls, 4X15, 6X1), Imam-ul-Haq 111 (233 balls, 4X7, 6X2)
Pakistan Playing XI:
Babar Azam (captain), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Iftikhar Ahmed, Noman Ali, Sajid Sajid Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah
Australia Playing XI:
Pat Cummins (captain), Usman Kawaja, David Warner, Marnus Laboschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameroon Green, Alex Cary (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Starc, Nathin Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
Match officials:
Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza (on-field), Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Rashid Riaz (fourth umpire), Ranjan Madugalle (match referee)
Officials Scorers:
Shakil Ahmed & Fazal-e-Azeem (field)
Adnan Farooq & Zafar Yasir (Press Gallery).
