Pakistan v Australia, first Test: Live updates from day 2 in Rawalpindi

Bad light saved Australia from a tricky end to day two but the tourists have a huge mountain to climb to win the first Test against Pakistan.

Peter Lalor and Lachlan McKirdy

8 min read

March 6, 2022 - 12:11AM

Cricket

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Australia has a mountain of work to do after Pakistan declared at 4-476 late on the second day of the first Test.

But Usman Khawaja and David Warner were spared an uncomfortable 16 overs when the umpire’s decided only spin could be bowled, then ordered the players off after six deliveries.

There was 20 minutes of chaos after Babar Azham surprised everybody with the declaration in the evening.

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Warner and Khawaja sprinted off then reappeared, Shaheen Shah Afridi marked out his run, fielders took their positions – and nothing happened.

Play was held up for the next five minutes as the heavy roller, slow to appear, did its job while the players waited.

Eventually the machine made its way from the ground then the umpires intervened to inform Babar that it was too dark to use his seamers.

The field was reset, Sajid Khan bowled an over and then it was over.

David Warner survived one over before bad light ended play. Picture: Aamir QURESHI / AFP

Cummins’ men had a lot of work put into their legs in the first two days, sending down 162 overs with little success.

Spinner Nathan Lyon shouldered the load for 52 of them and finished with 1-161.

He was deprived a second scalp when Alex Carey dropped Mohammad Rizwan before he was off the mark. It was not a good moment for a keeper who is under a cloud after a not totally convincing start to his Test career, but it was one glitch 149 overs into the innings.

Azhar Ali’s 185 and Imam-Ul-Haq’s 157 will be long celebrated by Pakistan fans given they were made against the world’s best bowling attack.

There is rain predicted for the third day and the Australians have boxed clever, keeping the scoring to under a three runs an over.

It will take a mighty effort to win the game, but it is far from lost.

Marnus Labuschagne deserves an honourable mention for his brilliant run out of Babar, aiming a direct hit with only one stump to aim at and picking up a wicket with his occasional spin.

Mohammad Rizwan (left) and Iftikhar Ahmed leave the ground after Pakistan’s declaration. Picture: Aamir QURESHI / AFP

STUMPS: Australia 0-5 (Khawaja 5*, Warner 0*) after 1 over trails Pakistan 4-476d by 471 runs at 10.55pm AEDT.

ROLLING UPDATES

10.55pm: After a whole lot of fuss to get Australia out in the middle, Usman Khawaja and David Warner have only faced the one over before being forced off by bad light. Initially it looked as though exciting Pakistan quick Shaheen Shah Afridi was set to open the bowling before umpires intervened and told Babar Azam that only spin could be used.

After five minutes, we finally saw an over from Sajid Khan with Khawaja trying to be aggressive and taking five runs off it. However, that was all we saw of Australia’s innings on day two.

DAY ONE WRAP

10.30pm: Pakistan captain Babar Azam has finally made the decision to declare late in the final session of day two, calling Rizwan and Ahmed in from the field. While Pakistan have set an imposing total of 4-476, they never got away from Australia in terms of run rate, going at 2.93 an over across the course of the innings.

Usman Khawaja will now get to bat in Pakistan for the first time in his career as he opens the batting with childhood friend David Warner. If Australia can get through this session with all wickets in hand, it will set up an intriguing day three in Rawalpindi.

10pm: Marnus is in the thick of everything. The number one batter chimes in with a wicket of his own this time, dismissing Azhar Ali thanks to a tidy catch from Cameron Green. Ali departs for 185 and was clearly trying to free the hands and progress Pakistan’s score, a sublime performance from one of the talisman of the side.

9:40pm: Australia could have had two wickets in the space of a couple of minutes, unfortunately Alex Carey couldn’t hold on to a tough chance behind the stumps off Nathan Lyon.

Lyon drew an edge from the new batter Mohammad Rizwan and while it wasn’t a regulation catch, the Aussie keeper would have expected to take it.

Big drop by Carey ðŸ˜¬

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9:35PM: Marnus Labuschagne has produced a moment of individual brilliance to lift Australia’s spirits late on day two. After 147 overs, Labuschagne was quick on the heel to prevent a single, picking up the ball and throwing down the stumps at the non-striker’s end in the one motion.

And didn’t he love it!

RUNOUT ðŸ’¥

That was BEAUTIFUL from Labuschagne ðŸ‘

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9:24PM: Nathan Lyon has bowled 50 overs of more in an innings for just the fifth time in his esteemed career. Despite some promising signs on day one, Lyon hasn’t been able to generate too many chances across more than 300 deliveries on a flat Rawalpindi surface.

*****

TEA 8.45PM: Australia were able to finally break Pakistan’s second-wicket partnership in that session, it only cost them 208 runs, but the host’s captain came in and picked up where ul-Haq left off to blast his way to 33* at tea while Azhar Ali brought up his century and went on to 150* at the break.

A reminder that Azam averages 93 with the bat when at the crease in Pakistan. It’s set to be a tough slog for Australia in the final session of the day and they’ll hope a declaration is near.

8.16PM: Over the hour since Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been at the crease, he and Azhar Ali have slowly gone about upping the scoring tempo as they look to capitalise on their dominance.

Overall, Pakistan’s scoring has been quite slow throughout the first four sessions so they will be looking to really put themselves in the ascendancy and find a declaration late in the final session.

7.07PM: Australian captain Pat Cummins has finally got his side’s second wicket of the innings with Imam-ul-Haq departing for 157.

The Aussies were made to sweat after the Pakistan opener sent the decision upstairs but it came back with all three reds and he had to go.

Cummins has been the best of Australia’s bowlers so far on day two and has figures of 1-51 from 23 overs.

7PM: Scenes of celebration after Azhar Ali brings up his century off 259 balls. The accomplished batter has looked composed for his entire stay at the crease, happily taking singles and soaking up everything the Australian bowlers have to throw at him.

It’s the 37-year-olds 19th Test century.

*****

LUNCH 6PM: Pakistan have made it through the first session on day two without losing a wicket, although Australia has yet again been able to limit their scoring output with the hosts only scoring 57 runs in 25 overs.

Imam-ul-Haq made his way past 150, while Azhar Ali got within touching distance of his century.

Nathan Lyon created some chances, the best of which was a caught behind which the Aussies failed to review.

5:33PM: A big moment in the game as it looks as though Australia has missed a chance to review a potential caught behind. Nathan Lyon drew a false shot from Imam-ul-Haq whose late cut was very close to the gloves of Alex Carey. There was a slight appeal from the wicketkeeper but Cummins opted not to review.

Replays and snicko suggested the faintest of edges off the centurion’s bat. A mistake Australia could be left to stew on.

Not review by Australia ðŸ‘€

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5.20PM: It has been very slow going on Day 2 in Rawalpindi with Australia looking for a wicket and Pakistan looking to bat time.

Yet again, Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali have look relatively untroubled as the latter makes his way towards a century. The Aussies are bowling well but are getting nothing back from the deck.

4PM AEDT: The Australians have reflected on their second moment’s silence in as many days to start this Test match after the tragic passing of Shane Warne overnight. Through the countless tributes on social media, it’s clear this loss is set to impact the Australian players and hopefully will give them extra energy as they look for early wickets on Saturday.

Pat Cummins took the ball for the first over for the Aussies while Imam-ul-Haq looked as solid as he did for over six hours yesterday.

3.30PM AEDT: Australian captain Pat Cummins will be searching for early breakthroughs on day two after his side were spectators to some impressive Pakistan batting.

They have a relatively new ball at their disposal after taking it late on day one. The Australians didn’t see the reverse swing they hoped for on day one but will hope the conditions are more conducive to getting the ball to move on Saturday.

SHANE WARNE COVERAGE

Follow CODE Sports for continued coverage of the tragic death of Australian cricket legend, Shane Warne.

FROM THE GROUND

Peter Lalor from Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium

News Corp’s Pete Lalor is in Pakistan covering the Test and the reaction to Shane Warne’s tragic passing.

LUNCH UPDATE

When your opposition reaches 1-302 with an inexperienced opener passing 150 you have to make the most of every chance, but Australia incredibly did not go to DRS when they had Imam-Ul-Haq caught behind.

The Pakistan batter was 144no when he snicked the ball off the bottom edge into Alex Carey’s glove there was a solid appeal but not great excitement.

David Warner, who was in the cover, was pushing for a review but slip Steve Waugh and Carey weren’t fussed.

Maybe it was the incessant, infernal horns the crowd blow from first thing in the morning, but whatever it was it hurt.

Captain Pat Cummins, a man who rarely displays any negative emotions, allowed himself a wry grin that was slow to leave his face.

Imam, who made his maiden Test century on the first day, went to the break on 154no and Azhar Ali is 95no on a pitch that is batsman’s dream and a bowler’s graveyard.

The Australians, to their credit, have kept the run rate to three an over despite the long, hard toil.

He also captured the moment teams paused for a moment’s silence at the start of day two.

Pindi pauses in a minutes silence for Shane Keith Warne. pic.twitter.com/ADhtIzWBfC
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 5, 2022

TEAMS

Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan XI: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi