Karachi Test not over but, says Babar Azam after ending century drought on Day 4 vs Australia
3 min readPakistan captain Babar Azam got here up with a defiant hundred on Day 4 of the 2nd Test of a 3-match sequence towards Australia in Karachi, preserving the hosts’ hopes alive after Pat Cummins’s aspect set them a mammoth goal of 506 runs. Pakistan had been reeling at 19/2 after shedding twin centurion from the Rawalpindi Test, Imam-ul-Haq, and senior batter Azhar Ali however Babar and opener Abdullah Shafique saved the Australian bowlers at bay with a combating partnership.
Pakistan reached Stumps on Day 4 at 192/2 after batting out 82 overs. The hosts nonetheless want 314 runs for a record-setting chase however with the 171-run unbeaten stand, Babar and Shafique have proven that Australia will not have the ability to roll them over like they did within the first innings the place Pakistan had been bundled out for 148.
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd Test Day 4 Highlights
Pakistan captain Babar Azam highlighted that the Karachi Test is way from over and they should proceed their good work if they’re to keep away from going 1-0 down within the 3-match sequence.
In reality, it was an vital knock for Babar Azam in addition to the Pakistan skipper scored his first Test hundred since February 2020, breaking a 2-year-long drought for a 3-figure rating.
“This knock means a lot to me, the team needed it,” Babar mentioned after Stumps on Day 4.
“Fortunately I have managed to get a good partnership with Shafique. The match is not over yet, so we need to continue playing in the same way, and the other batters also need to step up,” he added.
“Job is not done yet” @babarazam258 speaks to Zainab about his Masterclass and plans for tomorrow. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Zb37VyviQW
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 15, 2022
COUNTERING REVERSE SWING
Pakistan had been undone by reverse swing within the first innings. Michell Starc and Pat Cummins obtained the previous ball to do house owners because the hosts had been bundled out for 148, conceding a lead of 408 runs. However, Babar mentioned the Pakistan batters labored on going through reverse swing higher after their dismal present earlier within the Test.
“After the first innings, we practiced in the nets how to counter their reverse swing, just that we need to play slightly late,” he added.
Babar and Shafique joined within the second over after lunch when Azhar Ali’s labours for greater than an hour to attain 6 had been undone by an lbw from Cameron Green. The video overview confirmed a spike coming off the gloves earlier than it hit Azhar on the physique, however he selected to not overview.
Pakistan might have been 38-3 however Steve Smith spilt a simple catch within the slips when Shafique was on 20. It was Smith’s third dropped catch within the check. Shafique additionally obtained a life on 33 when he was effectively in need of his crease however Green missed the stumps on the non-striker’s finish.
Earlier, Australia prolonged its result in 505 when Cummins declared the second innings at 97-2 after Marnus Labuschagne, on 44, performed Shaheen Afridi again onto his stumps off a mistimed pull shot.
Afridi and Hasan Ali didn’t enable first innings century-maker, Usman Khawaja, 44 not out, and Labuschagne to attain shortly within the half-hour after Australia resumed on 81-1. The declaration got here sooner than anticipated.
