Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Test: Hosts declare on 476/4
Pakistan are on top in the ongoing first Test against Australia at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. They declared on 476/4, with Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali sharing a 208-run stand. Azhar scored a mammoth 185, while Imam finished on 157. Pakistan made the declaration in the final session. Australian openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner played one over before bad light played spoilsport.
How did Day 2 pan out?
Pakistan resumed from their overnight score of 245/1 on Day 2. Azhar Ali and Imam-ul-Haq stretched their score past 300. Australian skipper Pat Cummins dismissed Imam in the 121st over. Pakistan captain Babar Azam played a sturdy knock but departed due to an unfortunate run-out. Azhar was the last Pakistani batter to depart. Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed remained unbeaten as Pakistan declared.
Azhar Ali slams his 19th Test ton
Former Pakistan captain Azhar raced to his 19th century in Test cricket. He is only behind Younis Khan (34), Inzamam-ul-Haq (25), Mohammad Yousuf (24), Javed Miandad (23) in terms of Test tons among Pakistani batters. Azhar ended up scoring 185 off 361 balls with the help of 15 fours and 3 sixes. He shared two century stands (with Imam and Babar).
Azhar attains this feat
Azhar now has the sixth-highest score by a Pakistan batter against Australia. He also occupies the fifth spot on the tally (205* at MCG, 2016). Former Pakistan batter Saleem Malik has the highest such score (237 at Pindi, 1994).
Imam slammed his maiden Test ton
Imam gave Pakistan a salubrious start in the first Test. He batted throughout the first day along with Azhar. The former slammed his maiden ton in Test cricket. Imam smashed 157 off 358 balls (16 fours and 2 sixes). The left-handed batter now has the fourth-highest score by a Pakistani opener in a Test match against Australia.
Mohammad Rizwan completes 1,000 runs in Test cricket
Middle-order batter Mohammad Rizwan returned unbeaten as Pakistan declared. He played a brisk cameo, having scored 29* off 46 balls. During the innings, Rizwan completed 1,000 runs in Test cricket. He achieved the milestone in his 29th innings. Rizwan now has 1,001 runs from 20 Tests at a remarkable average of 43.52. His career-best score of 115* came against South Africa.
