Usman Khawaja’s unbeaten century (127) and Steve Smith’s half-century (72) put Australia in a strong position against Pakistan on the first day of the second Test of the three-match series here on Saturday.
Australia went to stumps on 251/3 on the first day, with Usman Khawaja and night-watchman Nathan Lyon (0) remaining unbeaten at the crease.
Pat Cummins led Australia won the toss and elected to bat first in Karachi. David Warner and Usman Khawaja, after surviving a tough opening spell from the Pakistan pacers, dominated with the bat as they made full use of the fresh pitch in the first half of the opening session.
Shaheen Shah Afridi got off to a great start against the two left-handed batsmen, sometimes asking them questions with his swinging full-length deliveries. With Shaheen in the opening spell, Hasan Ali, who made a comeback in the Pakistan XI, was very accurate and troubled the batsmen with his tight line outside the off-stump. Warner, who started off weakly, survived two close calls off Hassan’s leg before wicket but looked in fine form after that.
With two left hands at the crease, Pakistan deployed the spin early. However, Warner and Khawaja’s aggressive response to Sajid Khan’s bowling exposed the openers’ point of view. In the very first over from Sajid, Warner danced to the track and hit a six at long-off, creating an opening partnership of half-century.
The opener remained in the middle as Khawaja too danced on the track to hit a six off Sajid in the 17th over, followed by another six from Warner in the same over. It looked like Khawaja and Warner would run for the start of a century before Faheem Ashraf broke to end the stand on 82. Working around the wicket, Ashraf managed to get Warner’s bat straight into the hands of wicketkeeper Rizwan, dismissing him. 36.
Shortly after losing his opening partner, Khawaja completed his second successive half-century of the series, hitting a boundary in the third man. Labuschagne, however, was unlucky to return to the pavilion for a duck. An ICC report said Labuschagne made a risky solo attempt while trying to get off the mark, but a straight hit from Sajid found him short on the non-striker’s end.
Khawaja and Steve Smith then ensured Australia didn’t lose any more wickets and took the visitors to 100/2 at lunch.
After the break, Khawaja and Smith continued their strong batting performance as the hosts failed to take any wickets in the second session of the day. The southpaw played some fine drives as he completed his century, while Smith batted patiently in the second session.
Bowling tight lines and lengths, Shaheen and Ashraf kept the run rate under control throughout the session by not allowing the batsmen to score freely. Nauman Ali took some spin and bounced off the surface but both the Aussies batted intelligently and went for tea at 172/2.
The batsmen made a century partnership in the final session of the day. Meanwhile, Smith’s return to form saw him score his 35th Test fifty. His innings allowed Khawaja to take his time during the nineties. After missing a ton in Rawalpindi, Khawaja carefully completed his century and soon scored his 11th Test century with a single towards square leg.
The new ball didn’t really make much difference as Smith and Khawaja continued to keep the scoreboard ticking. However, the arrival of Hasan gave Pakistan the breakthrough they needed, with Ashraf taking a brilliant catch at slips to bundle Smith out for 72.
Pakistan could have taken Khawaja’s wicket off the last ball of the day had Imam-ul-Haq not dropped the catch at short leg.
Brief Scores: Australia 251/3 (Usman Khawaja 127 not out, Steve Smith 72; Hasan Ali 1-31, Faheem Ashraf 1-32) vs Pakistan
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