KARACHI: Pakistan managed to escape a defeat by scoring 443-7 while chasing 505-9 runs target set by Australians in the second Cricket Test Match at the National Stadium here on Wednesday 16th of March, 2022.
Captain of the Green Shirts Babar Azam’s bat yielded 196 runs with the help of 21 fours and a six.
Babar Azam played one of the greatest and most memorable match-saving innings in the history of Test cricket as Pakistan held Australia to an impressive and respectable draw in the second Test for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy.
Babar scored an epic 196 off 425 balls in 10 hours and seven minutes of eye-catching batting as Pakistan finished at 443 for seven after resuming at 192 for two after being set an impossible 506-run target.
Babar’s career-best innings contained 21 fours and a six and it was the highest fourth innings score by a Test captain, and what a great occasion and time it was to bring this up as it will undoubtedly strengthen his status as one of the finest and most technically correct batters of this generation.
There were some hiccups and nervous moments after Babar Azam departed as Faheem Ashraf lasted just one ball and Sajid Khan survived 10 deliveries as Pakistan slipped from 392 for four to 414 for seven with 48 balls in the Test remaining.
However, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan showed nerves of steel when he took control and ensured Pakistan kept its chances of winning the Test series alive.
Both the sides will now travel to Lahore for the winner takes all third Test, which will commence on 21 March.
Rizwan struck 11 fours and a six, batted for 238 minutes and faced 117 deliveries for his 104 not out. This was his second century in 21 Tests.
When the match ended, Nauman Ali was the other not out batter who successfully negotiated 18 balls.
Rizwan was also involved in a 115-run fifth wicket partnership with Babar after Fawad Alam failed for the second time in the match by managing only nine from 27 balls.
While Babar missed a maiden double-century by four runs, opener Abdullah Shafique was unlucky to score his second century in successive Tests when he was caught by Steve Smith of Pat Cummins.
Abdullah, who resumed this morning at 71 not out, showed a lot of grit and fighting abilities in his 96 that came off 305 balls after 468 minutes of batting during which he hit six fours and a six.
Abdullah and Babar had got together during second session’s play on the fourth day and were separated just before lunch on the final morning when Abdullah made a rare error by trying to driving a wide delivery.
Abdullah put on 228 runs with Babar for the third wicket that gave Pakistan a realistic chance of escaping with the draw.
Against a world-class Australia attack on a fifth day pitch, Pakistan needed to show a lot of resilience and play with authority, confidence and courage, and this is exactly what they displayed as Babar and Abdullah, and Rizwan later, showed textbook temperament and shot-selection to frustrate the visitors.
The three batters also scored at a decent pace and there was a time when it appeared Pakistan may just go for the kill and chase down the 506-run target.
However, Babar’s departure that soon followed by the demise of Faheem and Sajid meant Pakistan pulled the shutters down and went for a draw.
While Pakistan will now arriving in Lahore oozing with confidence, Australia, despite dominate most part of the Test, will be wondering how to grab 20 wickets to win the Test.
Apart from their bowling, their fielding remained below-par as they dropped crucial catches to let Pakistan off the hook!
It may be recalled that after Australia declared its first innings at 556/9 Pakistan barely managed to make 148.
Later the visiting squad declared the second innings at 97/2 setting a target of 506.
It is pertinent to mention here that the 1st Test Match between Australia and Pakistan played in Rawalpindi also ended in a draw.
https://newspakistan.tv/cricket-australia-closes-2nd-day-on-505-runs/
Australia closes second day on 505 for eight against Pakistan: Wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey missed his maiden Cricket Test century as Australia closed the second day on 505 for eight against Pakistan at the National Stadium on Sunday.
The left-hander became Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s only second Test wicket as he missed the part-timer’s straight delivery and was bowled for 93 with just two overs left before close.
When stumps were drawn, Mitchell Starc was batting on 28 and touring skipper Pat Cummins yet to get off the mark after Usman Khawaja hit a memorable 160 in the country of his birth Pakistan.
When the wily Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan produced a sharp turning delivery that beat Khawaja’s defensive push on the back foot to clip the top of the off stump, Pakistan had thought they would wrap up Australian innings soon.
But Carey and Starc frustrated the home team during their eighth wicket stand of 98. Carey batted for 187 minutes, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes in his highest Test score, improving upon his previous best of 51 against England at Adelaide in December last year.
Sajid’s spin partner Nauman Ali bowled Cameron Green for 28 in the last over before tea but Pakistan’s plans to bat today were spoiled by Carey and Starc.
Pakistan took the third new ball after 163 overs with Australia’s total at 453-7 but none of the pace bowlers could get the breakthrough.
All rounder Faheem Ashraf (2-55) and Sajid (2-151) were the main wicket takers in Pakistan’s 180 overs of hard work.
Sajid had given Pakistan a double break in the post lunch session with the wickets of Khawaja and Travis Head.
Until then Khawaja had defied Pakistan’s pace-cum-spin attack for more than nine hours in an anchoring role since Australia won the toss and opted to bat on Saturday.
The left-hander from Queensland smashed 15 boundaries and a six in his third 150-plus masterly knock.
Sajid had earlier dismissed Head, leg-before wicket off a sharp delivery, while nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was bowled by Faheem in the first session for 38.
It was a dull morning session as Australia added 81 after resuming on 251-3 as the pitch held its flat nature.
Khawaja added 54 for the fourth wicket with Lyon to frustrate the Pakistan bowlers who were looking for early wickets to halt Australia’s progress.
Ashraf could have dismissed Lyon on 31 but failed to hold on to a return catch to his left.
Lyon capitalized on the reprieve with a sweetly-timed boundary but Ashraf had the last laugh three overs later, with a delivery that clattered into the stumps after brushing the Australian’s pads.
Lyon hit five boundaries during his stubborn knock of 38.
Khawaja was unflustered and pushed Hasan Ali for a single to complete his 150.
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