PAK VS AUS 2ND TEST

That's it then from the second Test match between Pakistan and Australia. The three-match series remains deadlocked at 0-0 and the focus now turns to Lahore for the final Test match of the series. That match starts on Monday the 21st of March and the first ball will be bowled at 10.30 am IST (5 am GMT). The build up though will begin much sooner as usual. Do join us then. Till then take care and goodbye!

Babar Azam, captain of Pakistan is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his sensational knock of 196 runs in the second innings. He says that the plan was simple, that they had to bat throughout, session by session. Tells that they wanted to build partnerships and continue it. Says that the team showed effort and it was great. Mentions that they had the belief and they stuck to that. Informs that they had a complete focus that they will each session no matter what. States that the way Mohammad Rizwan played, in the end, was outstanding as well to save the game. On being asked where he would rate this knock, he says that he just looked to play till the end as his team needed this knock.

Australia skipper, Pat Cummins says that the wicket was pretty good on Days 4 and 5 and they just couldn't convert those half-chances in the field and it was a good game of cricket overall. Mentions that Mitchell Swepson was fantastic on debut and his figures don't do him justice and applauds Nathan Lyon for his effort as well and mentions that he is proud of the boys. Adds that the way they batted and the way they hunted those wickets in the first innings is a big positive for them going into the final Test match at Lahore.

Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the match, Australia scored a mammoth 556/9 on the back of a superb 160 from Usman Khawaja in the first innings. In reply, Pakistan were bundled out for just 148 runs with the Aussie players spitting fire. The Aussies then declared on 97/2 in the second innings with a lead of 505 runs. Chasing 506 to win, the hosts went on to show grit and held on to their nerves to finish on 443/7. The match ended in a DRAW! Stay tuned for the presentation.

Mohammad Rizwan is up for a quick chat. He says that obviously batting five sessions against a top team is a big thing. Tells that the way Australia put up an effort was outstanding as well. Mentions that they kept playing with confidence. Informs that Babar and he planned to go for the chase but it was an old ball and they had to play through. States that the plan was simple and that they had to play five sessions. Credits Abdullah Shafique and Babar Azam for playing brilliantly. Says that there was pressure but they had to work hard and they did that. Adds that everyone knows Babar is a top-class player and he does not need to say a lot about him. Ends by saying that it was not easy to bat for two days as Australia always play to win. Says that they will try to play their best in the next game as well.

The pitch in Karachi was a flat one too but the Aussie bowlers showed their class as they got the ball to reverse in the first innings and were halfway home with that bowling performance. They didn't enforce the follow on and batted for a bit but once again started brilliantly with the ball. The pitch though showed its true colours and late on Day 4, Aussie pacers just couldn't get the ball to reverse enough to trouble the opposition batters. Day 5 was a whole match in itself. The visitors couldn't pick up wickets and kept on losing their advantage. Just when it looked the captains were about to shake hands, Babar Azam in search of a double-ton fell victim to Nathan Lyon who never gave up. Once Babar got out, Faheem Ashraf followed suit and Lyon was spinning a web all over the opponents. He then got his fourth wicket as Sajid Khan was dismissed while trying to have a bit of fun. At that point, Australia almost pulled it back but some sensible batting from Nauman Ali and counterattacking play from Rizwan meant that the visitors had to settle for a draw.

After getting bundled out for just 148 runs in the first innings and chasing 506 runs to win the Test match, the hosts were staring down the barrel of defeat. They were not helped by the fact that the in-form batters, Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali departed early in the second innings. Then came the saving grace on Day 4 as skipper Babar Azam put on a 150-plus run stand with Abdullah Shafique to get his side into a much more comfortable position at the end of Day 4. The pair went on to add a total stand of 228 runs before Shafique got out. They were still hanging by a thread at the point and Fawad Alam fell too. Then came in their most prolific player in the last year or so, Mohammad Rizwan. Slowly but surely the hosts began to take the sting out of the chase and frustrated the Aussie bowlers. Babar went on to surpass Michael Atherton's score of 185 to set the highest individual score by a skipper in the fourth innings of a Test match but fell 4 short of a double ton and the hosts lost a couple more wickets in the blink of an eye. Rizwan kept his cool, scored a century and made sure his team didn't lose the match.

What a riveting final hour of sumptuous cricketing action! After all the drama and the action over the course of 5 hard-fought days, neither team has been able to force a result and the second Test match of the series also ends in a DRAW. Unlike the first Test, there was a chance of either side actually getting a win until late on the final day. Overall, Australia will be disappointed to have let the match slip and on the other hand Pakistan will be very pleased as they managed to turn adversity into strength and saw the match through.

FOUR! THAT'S IT! Players shake hands and walk off. Pakistan cling on to a draw. Credit to Australia for toiling so hard and not giving up. Kept everyone on toes till the very end. What a riveting last hour we had, it had everything but then no body deserved to lose and both the teams settle for a draw in the end. Coming to the ball, it was dropped short and kept low on the middle and leg, Mohammad Rizwan goes deep inside the crease and hoicks it to the vacant deep mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Flatter and on off, Mohammad Rizwan stays back and blocks it out.

Flighted on middle. Mohammad Rizwan keeps it out.

Drifting down leg, Mohammad Rizwan sweeps but straight to leg slip.

Mitchell Swepson to bowl the final over of the Test match.

CENTURY! Mohammad Rizwan scores his second Test ton and becomes only the second Pakistan wicket-keeper to score a ton in the fourth innings! Take a bow! Steps out to this loopy ball and gets a leading edge towards covers but he scampers through to bring up his ton. He has played a match-saving innings here! Raises his hands, takes his helmet and acknowledges the applause from the crowd as well as his teammates,

Is that a Run-Out? Mohammad Rizwan scampers back and puts in the desperate dive to get back to his crease. The third umpire checks the replay and Rizwan is safe. He lives on at 99.

Is Mohammad Rizwan safe? Yes, he is shows the replay. Mohammad Rizwan steps out and gets to the pitch of the ball. He pushes it back to Nathan Lyon who has a shy at the striker's end. However, Mohammad Rizwan makes it back with a desperate dive.