PAK vs AUS 1st Test gets drawn: Records broken
On a dead pitch that assisted the batters at large, the first Test between Pakistan and Australia ended in a draw. The match which was held in Rawalpindi, saw Pakistan score 476/4d. Australia responded with a total of 459/10. In the second innings, Pakistan posted 252/0 as the match ended in a draw. Here's more.
How did the match pan out?
Pakistan openers added 105 runs in their first innings before Imam and Azhar batted for long periods to amass 150-plus century scores. Pakistan batted for 162 overs before declaring. In response, Australia's top four players batted well but nobody went on to convert the fifties into a ton. Nauman bowled well and got six scalps. Pakistan openers then added 252 runs in the second.
Why does this story matter?
This was a match that saw batters milk runs at will on what was a dead pitch. The likes of Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali scored big centuries in the first innings. Australia's top four batters got significant fifty-plus scores as well. Pakistan spinner Nauman Ali grabbed six wickets after bowling 38.1 overs in the first innings. The match saw several individual records get scripted.
Imam-ul-Haq slams these records
Pakistan opener Imam enjoyed himself in the middle. He hit 157 from 358 deliveries in the first innings and then followed it up with another century (111*) in the second. Imam slammed his maiden Test ton in the first innings. He now has 700-plus runs in Tests. The southpaw has surpassed the 350-run mark versus Australia.
Azhar Ali registers these feats
Senior Pakistan batter Azhar Ali hit 185 from 361 balls in the first innings. He smashed 15 fours and three sixes. Azhar has raced to 6,906 runs at 43.43. He slammed his 19th Test century. He has surpassed Dilip Vengsarkar (6,868) and K Barrington (6,806) in terms of Test runs. He slammed his fourth century versus Australia, besides racing to 1,185 runs at 45.19.
Feats achieved by Khawaja and Warner
Usman Khawaja slammed 97 for the Aussies, hitting 15 fours. He slammed his fifth fifty versus Pakistan, besides going past 500 runs (593). Overall, Khawaja has 3,239 runs, registering his 15th Test half-century. David Warner hit a 114-ball 68. He has 1,152 runs versus Pakistan at 78.10 (three fifties). Overall, Warner has amassed 7,652 runs at 47.52.
Feats attained by Labuschagne and Smith
Marnus Labuschagne slammed a 90-run knock from 158 balls. The promising Aussie star now has raced to 2,310 runs at 57.75. He hit his 13th Test fifty and a maiden one versus Pakistan. He surpassed the 500-run mark versus Pakistan (518). Steve Smith smashed 78 (196 balls). He now has 7,862 runs, hammering his 34th Test fifty. He has 833 runs versus Pakistan.
Records stands posted by the Pakistani batters
Imam and Azhar shared 208 runs partnership for the second wicket in the first innings. This is Pakistan's third-highest stand for the second wicket versus Australia in Tests. Shafique and Imam added a 250-run plus stand in the second innings. This is now Pakistan's highest stand for the opening wicket versus Australia in Tests.
Other feats achieved by Pakistani players
Nauman Ali (6/107) claimed his third five-wicket haul in Tests. He also registered his best figures in Test cricket. Shaheen Afridi (2/88) has raced to 88 Test scalps for Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistani opener Abdullah Shafique, who hit 44 in the first innings, registered his maiden ton in the second. He remained unbeaten on 136, facing 242 balls. He smashed 15 fours and a six.
Unique records registered in the match
As per statistician Mazher Arshad, this is the second instance when three century-plus stands were registered in a single Test. The first being Australia versus England, Adelaide, 1947. For the first time in 51 years Australia have conceded a 100-plus run opening partnership twice in a Test match. Last time it was Geoff Boycott and John Edrich in Adelaide in 1971.
Unique record for the Aussie batters
According to Mazher Arshad, for just the second time time each of Australia's top four reached 50 in the same Test innings in the subcontinent. The other instance being Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting, and Michael Hussey versus India in Delhi in 2008.
