Pakistan vs Australia: Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique hit 100, Rawalpindi Test ends in boring draw

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The opening Test between Australia and Pakistan ended in a boring draw at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. The two Pakistani openers, Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique, reached their respective centuries on Day 5.

Australia-Pakistan opening test in Rawalpindi ends in boring draw (AP Photo)

Australia-Pakistan opening test in Rawalpindi ends in boring draw (AP Photo)

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The opening test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi ended in a boring draw
  • Both teams agreed to end the game an hour before the end
  • The second game of the three-part test series begins on Saturday in Karachi

Pakistan openers Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique scored their respective hundreds on Day 5 as Australia gained just four wickets on a dead field in Tuesday’s drawn first Test in Rawalpindi. The Pakistan Cricket Board missed a chance to make this historic Test a memorable one by preparing a docile pitch for the opening Test of the three-game series in Rawalpindi. Both teams agreed to end the game an hour before the end.

Pakistan vs. Australia, Test 1 Day 5: How it happened

In response to Pakistan’s first innings being declared 476/4 on aggregate, Australia were bowled out for 459 on the final day of the competition. Imam followed his 157 in the first innings with a total of 476/4, declared with an unbeaten 111 in his first Test since November 2019, the fifth and final day to 252/0 in his second innings and led by 269 runs.

Shafique and Imam also became the first Pakistani opening pair to share a Century stand in each innings against Australia after scoring 105 runs in the first innings. It was a rough start for Australia, returning to Test cricket in Pakistan after 24 years, on a benign pitch at Pindi Cricket Stadium that offered no lateral movement to the visitors’ three frontline pacers or turned to ace spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon rolled 78 overs in the first innings and conceded 236 runs for Shafique’s lone wicket. Australia’s innings were finished in the first four overs of the day when they were all out for 459 after resuming at 449/7. Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali recorded a career-best 6-107 on the grassless field to lead Pakistan by 17 runs and the first innings.

The second game of the three-part test series begins on Saturday in Karachi. Australia’s first tour of Pakistan in 24 years also includes three ODIs and a T20 International – all in Rawalpindi.

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