Babar Azam, leading the side from the front, helped Pakistan save the second Test against Australia in Karachi. After batting the entire day on Tuesday, the Pakistan skipper was finally dismissed in the final session of Day 5 as he missed out on a well-deserved double ton. He scored 196 off 425 balls before getting out to Nathan Lyon.
Babar Azam’s knock kept Pakistan alive in the contest after Australia set them the greatest fourth-innings chase in Test cricket history. Chasing 506, Babar Azam arrived in the middle when the hosts were batting at 21/2 in 22.2 overs. He then went on to add 228 runs for the third wicket with opener Abdullah Shafique. By the time he was dismissed Pakistan had reached 392/5 with a little period of play remaining in the day.
Babar Azam Became 4th Batter To Face Over 400 Balls(425) In 4th Innings Of A Test
Babar Azam’s superb effort saw him script a new feat and he now finds himself in the elite company of Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Atherton, and Herbert Sutcliffe. He became the fourth batter to face over 400 balls in the fourth innings of a Test. Michael Atherton tops the charts with 492 balls, followed by Herbert Sutcliffe (462), and Sunil Gavaskar (443).
Meanwhile, Pakistan produced a brilliant fightback after Australia dominated the first three days of the contest. The visitors, who opted to bat first, piled 566/9(declared) in their first innings and bundled out Pakistan for 148 to secure a commanding lead of 408 runs.
Mohammad Rizwan Too Scores An Unbeaten 104 To Deny Australia An Easy Win
The Aussies then quickly declared their second innings on 97/2, giving their bowlers two days to bundle the Pakistan line-up for the second time in the contest. However, a splendid show by Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique, followed by another match-saving inning 104* by Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan escaped with a draw. The hosts piled 443/7 in their second innings.
Pakistan finished their marathon second innings at 443 for 7 with Mohammad Rizwan unbeaten on 104. Needing 506 to pull off a record chase, Pakistan ended up losing 7 wickets but held their nerves to play out a riveting draw. The result was needed, especially given the backlash the PCB received after the dull stalemate in Rawalpindi.
Mohammad Rizwan’s 2nd Test century made him only the 2nd wicketkeeper batter from Pakistan to score a hundred in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Moin Khan had achieved the feat in 1995. Overall, Mohammad Rizwan is the 7th to get there, along with Adam Gilchrist, Rishabh Pant, Matt Prior, Alan Knott and AB de Villiers.
Australia 556 for 9 Dec (Khawaja 160, Carey 93, Ashraf 2-55) and 97 for 2 Dec (Khawaja 44*, Labuschagne 44, Afridi 1-21) drew with Pakistan 148 (Babar 36, Starc 3-29) and 443 for 7 (Babar 196, Rizwan 104*, Lyon 4-112)