RAWALPINDI: Though Australian batters came out strong on Pakistani bowlers, opener Usman Khawaja fell short of a few runs for hitting a century, in his birth country, on day three of the first Cricket Test match, at Pindi Stadium, here.
After getting dropped twice, Khawaja (97 on 159 balls) was trying to play against left-arm spinner Nauman Ali when he was just three runs away from his century but was finally caught by Imam ul Haq at short leg.
The ball missed Khawaja’s bat and hit his glove. He was given not out by on field umpire Aleem Dar but Dar got it wrong as the decision was reversed after Pakistan’s review.
Earlier, Khawaja got away twice from getting dismissed as Fawad Alam dropped him (at 22) in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s over after which the Islamabad-born cricketer went on to hit three consecutive boundaries.
He was then dropped by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan against Nauman, when he had completed his half century.
But Sajid Ali was the first wicket-taker for Pakistan as he broke the 156-run partnership stand between Khawaja and David Warner. He bold Warner in the 41st over when he was on 68 runs. Warner’s innings of 114 balls included 12 fours.
The match was called stumps as both teams left the field due to bad light with 21 overs still to bowl. Before the stumps Marnus Labuschagne hit a half century (69 not out) while Steve Smith also remains unbeaten on 24 runs.
Australia trails by 205 runs against Pakistan as the green-shirts declared at 476 for 4 on day two. However, Pakistani pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah were unable to take any wicket on day three. The play for day four would begin at 9:45am on Monday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s bowling coach Shaun Tait would reach Karachi on March 9 and will integrate with the team after the completion of his three-day isolation.
Speaking about the end of day three’s game, Pakistani spinner Sajid Ali said currently the batting was suiting the batters and we would be using the new ball so we will try to stay in the game and bring good results.
“I bowled 27 overs and I do variations after 3 to 4 overs. I also worked on Warner’s wicket and then took it. Though I got one wicket but the bowling was good,” he said.
He said we were still in the match and would try to take wickets on day four. To a question, he said the crowd was fantastic and we enjoyed their support for both the teams.
Meanwhile, Australian batter Usman Khawaja said he was disappointed for not being able to score a 100 at Rawalpindi where he grew up.“But I had fun enjoying and my family will have been watching. I’m grateful to be here,” he said.
He said tomorrow (Monday) would be another day to score runs so there was an opportunity.
To a question, he said most of his family was in Karachi but he was born in Islamabad as his parents had to come here for work.
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