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The first Test of the three Test series between Pakistan and Australia ended in a draw at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. On Day 5, Pakistan bowlers mopped up the Australian tail quickly followed by total dominance with the bat. Skipper Babar Azam decided against declaring the second innings despite getting a substantial lead in the second session as openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique piled on runs and entered history books with the unbeaten 252-run partnership.
Imam enters elite list
Imam became the fourth Pakistan batter to score century in each inning of a Test against Australia. Younis Khan, Azhar Ali and Misbah-ul-Haq have achieved the feat so far. However, Imam is the only batter to do it on Pakistan soil. The left-handed batter remained not out for 111 off 223 deliveries. His innings included seven fours and two sixes.
Partnership record
The unbeaten 252-run partnership between Shafique and Imam is the highest opening partnership for Pakistan against Australia in Tests. Overall, it is the fourth-highest opening partnership against Australia in the Test format. The other three partnerships were between Jack Hobbs-Wilfred Rhodes (323), Shikar Dhawan-Murali Vijay (289) and Jack Hobbs-Herbert Sutcliffe (283).
Shafique got to his maiden Test century in his third Test after throwing his wicket away in the first innings for a score of 44.
On Day 5, Cummins tried as many as nine bowlers but could not get the breakthrough. The closest Australia got the wicket was when the ball bounced just short of Nathan Lyon in the 14th over.
Positives in drawn Test
After 77 overs of Pakistan’s second innings, the two captains called truce as a result seemed impossible under circumstances. The big positive for Pakistan turned out to be the comeback of Imam as he stamped his authority with two tons. Also, left-arm spinner Nauman Ali registered the second best bowling figures by a bowler in Rawalpindi. Ali took six wickets for 107 runs in 38.1 overs. On the other hand
Tail doesn’t wag
Earlier, starting the Day 5 at 449/7, Australia could add only 10 runs on the scoreboard. Starc did not add a single run to his overnight score and got trapped in front of the wickets by Shaheen Afridi. Skipper Cummins and Nathan Lyon became Ali's victims as Pakistan took a minor 17-run lead.
Next clash
The two teams will lock horns again in the second Test which will be played at National Stadium, Karachi, starting March 12.
