PAK vs AUS: Imam-ul-Haq impresses with two centuries as Test ends in draw

Opener scores centuries in both innings as Pakistan’s first home Test against Australia in 24 years ends in no result on flat Rawalpindi track; partner Shafique smashes maiden ton

PAK vs AUS: Imam-ul-Haq impresses with two centuries as Test ends in draw

Imam-ul-Haq (left) celebrates his century with Abdullah Shafique at Rawalpindi yesterday. Pic/AP; PTI

Imam-ul-Haq cracked a century in each innings and his opening partner Abdullah Shafique hit a maiden hundred as Pakistan’s first home Test against Australia in 24 years ended in a tame draw in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Imam scored an unbeaten 111 following up his 157 in the first innings, while Shafique finished on 136 as Pakistan were 252 without loss when the match ended without a result. Australia scored 459 in reply to Pakistan’s first innings score of 476-4 declared. Australia’s first Test on Pakistan soil since 1998—they previously declined to visit on security grounds—was ultimately spoiled by a flat Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch.

A combined total of 1,187 runs were scored for just 14 wickets over five days as the famed Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood—with 674 Test wickets between them before this match—got just one more. With a draw assured, the Pakistan openers took the opportunity for batting practice ahead of the second Test in Karachi starting on Saturday. In doing so, they became the first Pakistan pair to put on a century opening stand in both innings of a Test against Australia. Their stand is Pakistan’s highest for the first wicket against Australia in all Tests, bettering the 149 set by Khalid Ibadullah and Abdul Kadir in Karachi in 1964.

252
No. of runs put on by Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique for Pakistan’s highest opening-wicket stand against Australia

Brief scores
Pakistan 476-4d & 252-0 (A Shafique 136*, Imam 111*) drew with Australia 459 (U Khawaja 97, M Labuschagne 90, S Smith 78, D Warner 68; N Ali 6-107)

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