Pakistan captain Babar Azam got here up with a defiant hundred on Day 4 of the second Take a look at of a 3-match collection in opposition to Australia in Karachi, retaining the hosts’ hopes alive after Pat Cummins’s facet set them a mammoth goal of 506 runs. Pakistan had been reeling at 19/2 after shedding dual centurion from the Rawalpindi Take a look at, Imam-ul-Haq, and senior batter Azhar Ali however Babar and opener Abdullah Shafique saved the Australian bowlers at bay with a combating partnership.
Pakistan reached Stumps on Day 4 at 192/2 after batting out 82 overs. The hosts nonetheless want 314 runs for a record-setting chase however with the 171-run unbeaten stand, Babar and Shafique have proven that Australia will not be able to roll them over like they did within the first innings the place Pakistan had been bundled out for 148.
Pakistan vs Australia, second Take a look at Day 4 Highlights
Pakistan captain Babar Azam highlighted that the Karachi Take a look at is a ways from over they usually want to proceed their just right paintings if they’re to keep away from going 1-0 down within the 3-match collection.
If truth be told, it was once a very powerful knock for Babar Azam in addition to the Pakistan skipper scored his first Take a look at hundred since February 2020, breaking a 2-year-long drought for a 3-figure ranking.
“This knock way so much to me, the group wanted it,” Babar mentioned after Stumps on Day 4.
“Thankfully I’ve controlled to get a just right partnership with Shafique. The tournament isn’t over but, so we want to proceed taking part in in the similar approach, and the opposite batters additionally want to step up,” he added.
“Process isn’t carried out but” @babarazam258 speaks to Zainab about his Masterclass and plans for day after today. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS percent.twitter.com/Zb37VyviQW
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 15, 2022
COUNTERING REVERSE SWING
Pakistan had been undone through opposite swing within the first innings. Michell Starc and Pat Cummins were given the outdated ball to do house owners because the hosts had been bundled out for 148, conceding a lead of 408 runs. On the other hand, Babar mentioned the Pakistan batters labored on dealing with opposite swing higher after their dismal display previous within the Take a look at.
“After the primary innings, we practiced within the nets how one can counter their opposite swing, simply that we want to play somewhat overdue,” he added.
Babar and Shafique joined in the second one over after lunch when Azhar Ali’s labours for greater than an hour to attain 6 had been undone through an lbw from Cameron Inexperienced. The video evaluation confirmed a spike coming off the gloves prior to it hit Azhar at the frame, however he selected to not evaluation.
Pakistan will have been 38-3 however Steve Smith spilt a simple catch within the slips when Shafique was once on 20. It was once Smith’s 3rd dropped catch within the take a look at. Shafique additionally were given a lifestyles on 33 when he was once smartly in need of his crease however Inexperienced neglected the stumps on the non-striker’s finish.
Previous, Australia prolonged its result in 505 when Cummins declared the second one innings at 97-2 after Marnus Labuschagne, on 44, performed Shaheen Afridi again onto his stumps off a mistimed pull shot.
Afridi and Hasan Ali didn’t permit first innings century-maker, Usman Khawaja, 44 now not out, and Labuschagne to attain temporarily within the 30 minutes after Australia resumed on 81-1. The declaration got here previous than anticipated.
