1st Test, Rawalpindi, March 04, 2022, 10:30 AM
Pakistan
476/4(162.0ov) & 252/0(77.0ov)
Australia
459/10(140.1ov)
Pakistan drew with Australia
Right then! That is it from the first Test! The teams head into the second Test on level terms and the action now shifts to Karachi for the next Test. The second Test of the series will begin on Saturday, 12th March and the first ball of Day 1 will be bowled at 10.30 am IST (5 am GMT). Do join us then and make sure you tune in early for the buildup. Until then, cheers and goodbye!
Babar Azam, the skipper of Pakistan, starts by crediting the way Imam played in both the innings. Adds, there are quite a few positives and they would like to continue that in the next game. Tells, the bowlers did well and the batters were excellent. Adds, the main bowlers will be available for the next game and that is a good thing.
Pat Cummins, the skipper of Australia, says that it was a great week in Rawalpindi and the whole city got around them and helped them out and it was great to be back after 24 years. Tells that they are relatively fresh going into the second Test and are looking forward to it.
Imam-ul-Haq is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for scoring hundred in both the innings. He says that he has been working hard for the last couple of years and he feels good to score centuries in both the innings, especially against a team like Australia. Tells that he was trying to do the basics right and just followed the process.
Stay tuned for the presentation.
Abdullah Shafique is up for a quick chat. He says it is a big thing for him to score a ton against Australia but he would love such runs overseas. Adds, he played the wrong shot in the first innings and then he spoke to the batting coach on how to improve. Mentions, it was a very good surface to bat on and he enjoyed batting on it. Ends by saying there were quite a few positives in this game and it was a good game for them.
Also, in a game which has moved so, so slow, the weather and the light also did not help. There was close to two sessions lost in totality. When the teams entered Day 5, Australia probably had more chances of winning than their opponents but something special was needed from their bowlers or Pakistan needed to collapse but it was the hosts' openers who stole the show with a massive, massive stand with both of them scoring tons and recording the highest ever opening stand for Pakistan in Test cricket against Australia.
In reply, the Aussie batters too cashed in, especially the top 4. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne were dismissed in the 90s whereas Warner and Smith crossed 50s. Green too, made a handy contribution. However, unlike their opposition, the Pakistan bowlers did enjoy some success. Yes, they were made to toil hard but managed to get all 10 wickets on this placid wicket. Nauman Ali was the pick with a 6-fer and Shaheen Afridi too, bowled really well.
First it was Pakistan, after winning the toss and electing to bat, they posted close to 500, courtesy tons from Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq. Yes, one would probably say they batted way too slowly but credit to the Australian bowlers in that part as they did not let Pakistan score freely. The visitors' pacers struggled to pick wickets but did not let the opposition run away with the game by letting them score at a good click.
The teams have decided to shake hands which means that is the end of the game and like expected, it has ended in a draw. Something special was needed for a result in this one from the bowlers but that was not to be. The wicket just did not deteriorate and it is yet another day dominated by the batters. The whole Test was about the batters. It was a road and both the sides enjoyed batting on it.
In over# 77
0
0
1
0
1
1
Usman Khawaja 3/0(1)
76.6
.
Khawaja tosses it up, around off. Imam-ul-Haq gets forward and blocks it. That is it! The players shake hands and the match has ended in a DRAW!
76.5
.
Floated, on a length, around off. Imam-ul-Haq keeps it out.
76.4
1
An overpitched ball, on middle. Abdullah Shafique tucks it to the leg side for a single.
76.3
.
Flatter ball, on middle. Abdullah Shafique pushes it back to the bowler.
76.2
1
Flatter ball, around leg. Imam-ul-Haq nudges it around the corner and rotates the strike.
76.1
1
Flatter ball, around leg. Abdullah Shafique whacks it towards square leg and takes a run.
This could well be the last over of the game! After this one, the two teams can decide to call it off and the game would end in a draw. Usman Khawaja comes onto bowl.
In over# 76
0
0
0
0
0
1
Travis Head 35/0(13)
75.6
.
Floats it up, around off. Imam-ul-Haq lunges forward and keeps it out.