RAWALPINDI, March 8: Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq hit a century in each innings for Pakistan as Australia could bag only four wickets on a docile pitch in the drawn first Test on Tuesday.
Imam followed his 157 in the first innings total of 476/4 declared with an unbeaten 111 in his first Test since November 2019.
Imam’s opening partner, Abdullah Shafique, also prospered to record his maiden Test hundred and was unbeaten on 136 when Pakistan finished the fifth and final day on 252/0 in its second innings, leading by 269 runs.
Both teams mutually agreed to end the game with an hour remaining.
The second opening stand between Imam and Abdullah surpassed Pakistan’s previous best against Australia in 1964 when Khalid Ibadulla and Abdul Kadir combined for 249 in Karachi.
Shafique and Imam also became the first Pakistan opening pair to share a century stand in each innings against Australia after combining for 105 runs in the first innings.
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.
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. (AP)
