Pakistan defy all odds to draw second Test against Australia
Pakistan held on to a famous draw in the second Test versus Australia in Karachi. The Pakistan cricket team was set a target of 506 runs by the Aussies and batted for more than 170 overs to draw the match. Babar Azam led the way for his side with a superb 196-run knock in the second innings. Here we present the key records scripted.
How did the match pan out?
Australia rode on Usman Khawaja's brilliant 160 to post 556/9 in the first innings. Mitchell Starc (3/29) led the way as Pakistan were bowled out for 148. Australia saw Khawaja smash an unbeaten 44 to declare their innings (97/2). However, Pakistan held on in the run chase (443/7). Australia came close with the new ball late on Day 5. Khawaja also dropped Rizwan (104*).
Why does this story matter?
Pakistan saw Australia power themselves to 556/9 declared in the first innings before being bowled out for 148. Rather than enforcing a follow-on, the Aussies decided to bat again. They made 97/2, setting a massive target. However, Pakistan looked solid in the second innings and deflated the Aussies. Opener Abdullah Shafique (96), Babar, and Mohammad Rizwan were terrific for the home team.
Khawaja sparkles for Australia
Khawaja recorded the fourth-highest Test score by an Australian batter in Pakistan. His 160 is the fourth-highest Test score by an Australian batter in Pakistan after Mark Taylor: 334*, Greg Chappell: 235, and Graham Yallop: 172. He has been on a roll in 2022, hitting a third century in Tests. He now has 3,443 runs in Tests at 45.30. He slammed his 11th century.
Smith achieves these feats
Steve Smith scored a valuable 72 in the first innings for the Aussies. The senior batter has raced to 7,934 runs in Tests at 60.10. This was his 35th Test half-century. Smith also got past 900 runs versus Pakistan (905) at 56.56, becoming the 11th Aussie to do so. He hit his seventh Test fifty versus the Asian side.
Records smashed by Babar
Babar slammed 36 and 196 in the second Test. He has raced to 2,729 runs at 45.48. Babar registered his sixth century in Tests. This is also his best score in the format. Babar has raced to 677 runs versus Australia at 42.31. He registered his second ton against Australia. As per Cricbuzz, Babar's 196 is the highest fourth innings score by a captain.
Khawaja averages 88.55 versus Pakistan
Khawaja has continued his fine form versus Pakistan in Tests. He has surpassed the 700-run mark (797) at an astronomical average of 88.55. He slammed his second Test century versus Pakistan. He is the 13th Aussie batter to surpass 700 runs against Pakistan.
Feats attained by Starc and Lyon
Starc (3/29) has raced to 277 Test wickets, becoming the eighth Aussie to claim 275-plus scalps in the format. He has 37 wickets versus Pakistan. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon claimed five wickets in the match. He now has 421 Test scalps, surpassing Harbhajan Singh's tally (417). He is now the joint-13th highest wicket-taker, matching Shaun Pollock's numbers (421). Lyon now has 39 wickets versus Pakistan.
Contrasting team totals for Australia and Pakistan
Australia posted their third-highest total in Test cricket on Pakistan soil. Their best scores in Pakistan are 617/10 in Faisalabad (1980) and 599/4d in Peshawar (1998). Pakistan recorded their lowest score in Karachi versus Australia (148/10). This is also their third-lowest total in Test matches at home versus the Aussies after 145/10 in Rawalpindi (1998) and 146 in Lahore (1959).
Batting feats achieved by Carey, Rizwan and Shafique
Alex Carey hit a superb 93 in the first innings. This was his highest Test score and a second fifty. Rizwan batted valiantly in the second innings, notching his second Test century. He also surpassed former Pakistan cricketers Waqar Hasan (1,071) and Alimuddin (1,091). Shafique, who slammed 96 in Pakistan's second innings, has raced to 439 runs at 73.16. He hit his third fifty.
