Pakistan batters dig in to defy Australia

Mar 15, 2022

Pakistan batters dig in to defy Australia Image

The Pakistan batsmen dug in on Day 4 of the Second Test match, in Karachi, applying themselves in a way they had failed to in the first innings. The odds are still on an Australian win, but Pakistan themselves a chance to save the game at least. Asked to chase 506 or bat over five sessions, Pakistan finished the day on 192/2.

Australia began the Day 4 in a dominant position. Having declared on 556/9 in their first innings, they had bowled out Pakistan for 148. They batted again, and were 81/1 in their second innings at stumps on Monday, with Usman Khawaja on 35 and Marnus Labuschagne on 37.

The pair added 16 on Tuesday morning before Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled Labuschagne for 44. Pat Cummins declared immediately, leaving Khawaja unbeaten on 44.

Pakistan's second innings got off to a poor start when opener Imam ul-Haq was leg before to Nathan Lyon for just a single. Lunch was taken at 18/1.

Almost immediately after resumption, there was fresh disaster for Pakistan when they lost Azhar Ali for just six, leg before to Cam Green. Then, at last, Pakistan showed some resolve with the bat with captain Babar Azam joining Abdullah Shafique.

They dug in and patiently began dug their side out of the hole, while not being scared to put the bad ball away for runs. They managed to bat out the rest of the day. Pakistan still need 314 to win, with eight wickets in hand.

Babar will resume on Wednesday morning on 102 not out and Shafique unbeaten on 71. 

Australia 556/9 decl. (Usman Khawaja 148; Faheem Ashraf 2-55) and 97/2 decl. (Usman Khawaja 44*; Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-21) lead Pakistan 148 (Babar Azam 36; Mitchell Starc 3-29) and 192/2 (Babar Azam 102*; Cam Green 1-15) by 313 runs.