A total of 1187 runs were scored over a span of five days as Australia drew their first Test in Pakistan in 24 years. The Pindi Cricket Stadium, criticised for a benign, lifeless pitch in the first Test of the three-match series, saw four host batsmen notch tons. As many Kangaroo players scored fifties. 

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Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq hit a century in each innings as Pat Cummins and company could bag only four wickets in both innings of the first Test. 

Imam followed his 157 in the first innings with an unbeaten 111 in his first Test since November 2019. Pakistan’s other opener, Abdullah Shafique, scored his maiden test hundred and was unbeaten on 136 when his side finished the fifth  day on 252-0 in its second innings, leading by 269 runs.

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Both teams mutually agreed to end the game with an hour remaining.

Pakistan opened with 476-4 declared and Australia replied with 459 all out.

“I said earlier as well I have been working on my process for the last one and a half years. Very pleasing to be scoring a ton against Australia as they have a good bowling attack. I was working on my basics. Was waiting for the bad balls,” Imam, named the player of the match, said. 

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It was a tough start for Australia to resume playing test cricket in Pakistan after 24 years on a benign Pindi Cricket Stadium pitch which didn’t offer any lateral movement to the visitors’ three frontline pacers or turn to ace spinner Nathan Lyon.

Lyon bowled 78 overs and conceded 236 runs for the solitary wicket of Shafique in the first innings.

“I thought Pakistani batters batted really well in the whole game,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said. “We will spend a few days reviewing it and make different plans for Karachi.”

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Australia’s innings was wrapped up in the first four overs of the day when it was all out for 459 after resuming on 449-7. Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took a career-best 6-107 on the grassless pitch to give Pakistan a 17-run, first-innings lead.

The second test begins in Karachi on Saturday. Lahore stages the final test from March 21-25. The test series will be followed by three one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 in Rawalpindi.