Mohammad Hafeez scored a fine ton on his comeback while Imam-ul-Haq scored a fifty as Pakistan ended day one of the first Test against Australia in a commanding position.
At stumps, Pakistan were 255 for 3. Hafeez and Imam added 205 runs to set the tone for a big score. Nathan Lyon gave Australia the much-needed breakthrough by dismissing Imam for 76 to end the mammoth stand.
Peter Siddle ended Mohammad Hafeez’s knock after the latter scored 126. Jon Holland than accounted for Azhar Ali as Australia finished the tough day on a good note. At stumps, Haris Sohail was 15 not out alongside nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas on 1.
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Here are the statistical highlights from the first day of the game:
1. Aaron Finch is now second in the list of players who played the most number of international games before making their Test debut. The opening batsman wore the baggy green after representing Australia in 135 games. The list is led by Rohit Sharma who played 144 international games before his Test debut in 2013.
2. The 205-run stand between Mohammad Hafeez and Imam-ul-Haq was Pakistan’s fifth double-century stand in Tests. Their last double-century stand came when Azhar Ali and Sami Aslam added 215 against West Indies at the same venue in 2016.
3. Pakistan now have 13 century opening stands in Tests since November 2013. This is the third most for any team. Australia and England lead the list.
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4. This was the tenth time, the opposition openers shared a double-century stand against Australia in Tests. The team from Down Under last conceded it in 2013 when Indian openers M Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan added 289 in Mohali.
5. Mohammad Hafeez has now scored four centuries in UAE and also the second consecutive one in the country. The right-hander averages 55.27 in the UAE.
6. Hafeez scored his tenth Test century and is now only behind Saeed Anwar in the list of most centuries as Pakistan opener. Anwar scored 11 tons.
7. Australia took the first wicket in the innings on the last ball of the 63rd over. This is the longest Australia have gone wicketless in a Test since 2000. In 2002, they took the first wicket in the 67th over against England during the second innings of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane in 2010.
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