‘Bitterly disappointed’: No farewell century for David Warner after opener falls before lunch on day two

David Warner will have to wait until the second innings for a farewell century after the veteran opener was dismissed before lunch in his final Test match.

David Warner has walked off the SCG for what could be the final time as a Test batter after he was dismissed for 34 just 20 minutes before lunch on day two against Pakistan.

The veteran opener rode his luck throughout the innings, initially surviving a dangerous over before stumps on day one when a delivery somehow bounced millimetres over the bails.

More than 20,000 had already rolled in on Thursday morning to see Warner bat in his 112th and final Test, with the left-hander smashing a drive through the covers to open his account.

Scoring didn’t come freely for Australia’s most-prolific opener, who edged a couple of boundaries through the cordon before he was given a life on 20 when debutant Saim Ayub put down a simple chance at slip that Mark Waugh described as an “absolute sitter” in commentary.

David Warner falls for 34 in potentially his final Test innings.#AUSvsPAKpic.twitter.com/NkjfjjjgBJ

— CODE Cricket (@codecricketau) January 4, 2024

“We created an opportunity that we didn’t grab, and that’s been the story for us this series,” Pakistan skipper Shan Masood said.

“When you bowl well, you create opportunities and you need to hold onto your chances. Unfortunately, we’ve let go of another one.”

Warner and great mate Usman Khawaja shared a nice moment when they hugged it out in the middle after they brought up their 50-run partnership, but a change in bowling before the lunch break brought Warner unstuck and left the crowd in stunned silence.

Having had a few lives, it looked like Warner was set to cash in, but Agha Salman’s introduction into the attack proved Warner’s undoing, as the off-spinner got one to bounce a bit more and catch the shoulder of the bat, with Babar Azam holding onto a simple chance at slip.

David Warner and Usman Khawaja added 70 in what could be their final Test innings together. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“The crowd could not believe it. It was silence,” Adam Gilchrist said in commentary as Warner trudged off to a rousing reception from the members.

“He’ll be bitterly disappointed.”

Warner was visibly furious with himself having done all the hard work to see off the new ball, but the runs had dried up before he was eventually removed for 34 off 68 balls.

Australia is still in a strong position at 1-78 at lunch after Pakistan was bowled out for 313 on day one thanks to some late runs that propelled them to a competitive total.

Fans across the country will hope that Warner gets one more chance to bat on his home deck, with a trademark slashing knock the perfect farewell for a man whose attacking approach has changed the way openers go about their business.