Pakistan and Australia Headed for Draw (Pakistan vs Australia First Test Day Four)

Mar 07, 2022

Pakistan and Australia Headed for Draw (Pakistan vs Australia First Test Day Four) Image

The first Test match, in Rawalpindi, already seems destined for a  draw after three days of cricket. After Pakistan declared on 476/4, Australia were 271/2 in their response before bad light forced the players off the pitch early on Sunday. At that stage Marnus Labuschagne was on 69 and Steven Smith on 24.

However, heavy overnight rain resulted in a drenched outfield, and no play was possible on the fourth morning. The skies finally cleared and, after heroic work by the ground staff, play finally got underway, with Labuschagne and Smith resuming their partnership.

The pair added 40 to their overnight score when Labuschagne fell for 90, caught by Abdullah Shafique off Shaheen Shah Afridi. He had faced 158 balls and struck 12 fours.

Pakistan then enjoyed more success with the ball when Nauman Ali had Travis Head caught behind for 8. However, at the other end, Smith passed his fifty and looked to build a partnership with Cam Green. The pair reached tea with the score 364/4.

They resumed after the break, although there was no great pace in the pitch or the play.

However, both eventually fell. Green was the first to go, for 48, giving Iftikhar Ahmed a catch off Nauman Ali.

Then Nauman claimed his fourth wicket when he had Smith caught behind for 78. Smith had faced 196 balls, with eight fours, and spent nearly five hours at the crease.

Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc added 22 for the seventh wicket. Although Carey fell shortly before stumps for 19, bowled by Naseem Shah for 19, Starc and captain Pat Cummins saw out the rest of the day as Australia closed on 449/7.

They trail by 27 runs with 3 wickets in hand. Barring a miracle, the match is heading for a draw.

Pakistan 476/4 decl. (Azhar Ali 185, Imam ul-Haq 157) lead Australia 449/7 (Usman Khawaja 97; Nauman Ali 4-107).