RAWALPINDI: Australian openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja could only manage to bat for a single over against Pakistan as the bad light forced early stumps on the second day of the first Test, here on Saturday.
Khawaja and Warner, who came out to bat in response to Pakistan’s mammoth 476, only faced one over of Sajid Khan before the umpires firstly suspended the match due to the bad light which later turned into early stumps.
Australia managed to finish the day at 5/0, while Khawaja (5*) and Warner (0*) will resume the proceedings for the touring side on the third day.
Moments earlier, Pakistan declared their first innings at 476/4 after adding 86 runs for the loss of two wickets in the final session of the second day of the Rawalpindi Test. The wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan (29*) and Iftikhar Ahmed (13*) remained not out before the declaration.
The experienced top-order batter Azhar led the way with his 185 and lost his wicket in an attempt to further accelerate the innings. The right-handed batter faced 361 deliveries and smashed 18 boundaries including three sixes.
Babar, on the other hand, also looked to play a quick knock, as the skipper scored 36 off 82 balls including three boundaries before falling short to Marnus Labuschagne’s direct hit.
Earlier, the duo of Azhar and Babar bolstered Pakistan to 390-2 at the stroke of the Tea break. The pair appeared solid and scored runs at a quick rate; putting on an important 81-runs partnership of 127 balls.
Azhar, who was just five shy of his century, brought up his 19th Test century and his sixth 150 plus score in the longest format.
The last day’s centurion Imam, however, walked back to the pavilion in the 121st over as Pat Cummins trapped the left-hander in legs. Imam scored a magnificent 157 off 358 balls including 16 boundaries and two sixes.
Resuming at an overnight score of 245-1, Azhar and Imam provided a rather defensive but effective start to the home side on the second day of the first Test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy. The pair added 57 runs in the first session, with Imam bringing up his first 150 plus score in Test cricket.
So far in the historic Rawalpindi Test, Nathan Lyon, Labuschagne and Cummins managed to pick a wicket apiece for Australia.
