Skipper Babar Azam broke a fighting century with big support from opener Abdullah Shafique on Tuesday when Pakistan thwarted Australia’s hopes of a quick win in the second Test in Karachi. Azam set a discouraging 506-run goal, beating his sixth Test century — and second against Australia — to lead Pakistan to 192-2 and spark hopes of an unlikely win, or even a draw. In the closing stages, Azam was undefeated with 102 and Shafique 71, as the pair added 171 for the third wicket, leaving the home side needing a further 314 runs in the last day’s 90 overs to win, or run out three sessions for a draw.
Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq (one) and Azhar Ali (six) before Shafique and Azam led the way, leaving Australia wicketless in the final session – despite taking the second new ball after 80 overs.
Azam shoved a sweep-off spinner Mitchell Swepson into the short fine-leg for two to reach the three-digit mark, his first in 21 innings since his 143 against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi in February 2020.
Azam’s hundred came in 247 minutes with 12 limits.
Shafique was just as solid as his skipper, with four limits so far and a six as he and Azam hit challenging for 265 minutes.
No team has ever chased more than the 418-7 the West Indies did against Australia in Antigua in 2003, while Pakistan’s highest successful chase was 377 against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015.
Australia, which resumed its second innings at 81-1, batted just 26 minutes at the start of the game to add 16 runs before making it 97-2.
The visitors scored 556-9 in their first innings, then Pakistan was off the field for 148.
The home team had hoped Azhar would anchor in the second innings, but the senior batsman was caught lbw by Cameron Green while trying to dodge a short pitch.
Azhar chose not to review as he trudged away, but regretted it when television reruns showed he gloved the ball.
At 21-2, Australia appeared to have the upper hand and take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series, but their efforts were thwarted by a slow turning pitch and the brilliance of the Pakistani batting pair.
Australia could have had Shafique on 20, but veteran Steve Smith threw an uncomplicated catch into pacer Pat Cummins’ briefs.
Despite cracks on the pitch at the National Cricket Stadium, Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Swepson failed to take a vicious turn.
Earlier, Haq and Shafique were all cautious, as it took until the fifth left to score the first run, before Lyon struck.
The in-form Haq, who scored a hundred in each innings of the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi, was stuck for one pound as he failed to connect with a sliding delivery.
Earlier, Marnus Labuschagne was thrown off a sharp Shaheen Shah Afridi delivery for 44 to prompt skipper Cummins to finish the innings with innings-maker Usman Khawaja, who was born in Pakistan and came to 44.
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Australia is on their first tour of Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to travel the country due to security concerns.
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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