Imam ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique scored hundreds in Pakistan’s second innings.
Australia and Pakistan played out a relatively uneventful draw at Rawalpindi in what was a tremendously batting-heavy contest. The Australians, who responded well to Pakistan’s first innings total of 476/4 on the back of big hundreds by opener Imam ul-Haq and Azhar Ali, resumed play on 449/7, after Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Steve Smith all came agonisingly close to the three-figure mark. A result was not on either team’s mind, especially with how the pitch was playing over the course of the previous four days.
Australia, who concluded play on Day 4 on 449/7, would have been looking to get some quick runs on the board, but that was not to be, as the Aussie innings folded in barely three overs, adding just ten runs to their overnight total, ending their first innings on 459. Veteran spinner Nauman Ali starred with the ball for Pakistan, as the 35-year-old picked up figures of 6/107, most notably dismissing Usman Khawaja and the inimitable Steve Smith, for 97 and 78 respectively.
There was absolutely no hope for a result from either side, and that was clearly visible from the Pakistan game plan, as the Pakistan openers got stuck in to the Australian bowlers. The pitch offered nothing for the bowlers, and the openers, who had a draw in their mind, played some expansive shots, but did not take many risks. They had no intention to declare, and it looked as if they were intent on playing out the entire day.
Given Pakistan’s history of collapsing at crucial junctures, there were many who expected the possibility of a Pakistan collapse, and a potential Australian victory. However, the openers gave no chance to any such mishap, as they batted through the entire first session, going in for lunch at a comfortable 76/0.
The post-lunch sessions were more of the same. The Australian bowlers tried varied plans to dismiss the Pakistan batsmen, including an interesting ploy that Pakistan executed when they dismissed Steve Smith, which involved a spinner bowling into the rough on the leg side, prompting an attempted sweep from the batsman, but gloved straight through to the wicket-keeper, who would assume a position outside the leg stump. But, none of the plans worked, as both batsmen came close to individual landmarks.
Towards the end of the post-lunch session, both ul-Haq, and Abdullah Shafiq marched towards their respective centuries, but the tea break caused a slight delay in the party, as Imam was on 89, and Shafiq was a run short of his maiden Test century when the umpires called for Tea.
Shafiq reached his first Test hundred shortly after resumption of play. There were a few jitters for the ul-Haq, who survived a review in his nineties. He did eventually reached his century, to add to his 157 in the first innings. The two batted on until the end of play, which actually ended a bit early, perhaps because the chances of any result were too farfetched.
Imam ul-Haq was named man of the match for his brilliant showing as he got twin tons in the game. The second Test will begin on March 12 in Karachi, and both sides will be eager to draw first blood. Pakistan will also benefit from the return of Hasan Ali, who was unavailable for the first Test.
