Pakistan openers were off to a brisk start in the second innings on the final day of the first Test against Australia in Rawalpindi. While Imam-ul-Haq who had scored a scintillating ton in the first innings continued his form and notched up a fifty during the course, his opening partner Abdullah Shafique also scored a fifty as the two batters helped the side go past 100-run mark without losing a wicket and stretching the lead over 125 runs.
The visitors were earlier bowled out for 459, in reply to Pakistan’s 476/4 (D) in the first innings after spinner Nauman Ali scalped a six-wicket haul.
Opener Usman Khawaja and batter Marnus Labuschagne missed out on scoring individual centuries. Khawaja was out for 97 while Labuschagne was undone for 90. Apart from these two, Steve Smith and David Warner scored individual fifties for the team.
Australia are touring Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. The action will shift to Karachi for the second Test scheduled to begin on March 12, 2022 and the sides will then travel to Lahore where they will play the third and the final clash, beginning on March 21, 2022.