Pakistan, who have won seven of their last eight Tests including two at home, dominated Day 1 of the historic first Test against Australia at Rawalpindi on Friday. The two teams are playing for the Benaud-Qadir Trophy, dedicated to legendary leg-spinners Richie Benaud and Abdul Qadir. Follow cricket highlights of PAK vs AUS first Test Day 1 here. (SCORECARD | LIVE STREAMING | IND vs SL HIGHLIGHTS)
06: 20 PM IST: Stumps
The game on Day 1 ends and so does Australia’s misery, at least for some time. Imam-ul-Haq carries his bat with unbeaten 132 off 271 balls while Azhar Ali accompanies him with 64 off 165. Nathan Lyon, who dismissed Abdullah Shafique (44 off 105), was the lone wicket-taker for Australia on the day.
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The pitch was a batsmen's paradise and Pakistan made sure they don't miss out on the opportunity. It was superb display of cricket from the hosts on Day 1 of the historic Test match between the sides. Captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bat first. Imam and Abdullah Shafique added 105 runs for the first wicket before the latter fell to Nathan Lyon. That was the only moment of joy for Australia on the entire day as Pakistan batters Imam and Azhar stitched an unbeaten 140-run partnership to keep Australia out of the game.
PAK 245/1 (90)
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05: 59 PM IST: No Respite For Australia
No change in Australia's fate so far. Despite some close chances, they are still searching for the second wicket of the innings. Partnership between Azhar and Imam is now of 133.
PAK 238/1 (85)
05: 42 PM IST: Australia Take New Ball
Australia have taken the new ball. Mitchell Starc will bowl with it.
PAK 235/1 (82)
05: 35 PM IST: Dominant Pakistan
The second new ball is available but Australian skipper Pat Cummins has decided to stay with the old ball. Nathan Lyon bowls the 81st over.
PAK 230/1 (80)
05: 12 PM IST: Fifty For Azhar Ali
The right-handed batter races to his 35th Test fifty on the third ball of 74th over. He has supported Imam brilliantly from the other end. He started a bit slow but paced his innings really well later.
Pakistan on a roll.
PAK 213/1 (74)
04: 56 PM IST: 200 Up For Pakistan
Pakistan further strengthen their grip on Day 1 as Australia fail to break the partnership of Azhar Ali (44) and Imam (107). The two have added 95 runs for the second wicket so far.
The guests are still 10 overs away from getting the new ball. Azhar and Imam would look to get the best out of next 60 balls before Australia's fate changes.
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PAK 200/1 (70)
04: 36 PM IST: Maiden Test Century For Imam
Here is the moment for the southpaw. Got one outside off from Mitchell Starc and played a beautiful drive for a four.
What an innings this has been. It had solid defence and calculated aggression. And what better a moment it can be to score your maiden Test ton. He knew the importance of his historic game,understood the value of his wicket and it all repeaed fruits for him.
PAK 192/1 (65.3)
04: 31 PM IST: Imam On 97
Imam-ul-Haq needs just three more to race to his maiden test ton. Meanwhile, Azhar Ali is unbeaten on 42 off 89 balls.
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PAK 188/1 (65)
03: 52 PM IST: Final Session
We are now into the final session of Day 1. Pat Cummins will bowl the first over on resumption, Imam to face him.
It's a maiden over.
PAK 171/1 (57)
03:27 PM IST: Tea Break
Imam-Ul-Haq is going really good. He is 92 off 161 balls, needing just 8 more to race to his maiden Test ton. Meanwhile, Azhar Ali has also done well to score unbeaten 30 off 71 balls.
Nothing much for Australia in the session as the pitch looks like a batsmen's paradise.
PAK 171/1 (56)
03:03 PM IST: Pakistan Going Good
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A dull phase for Australia. They hardly got any real chance in the last 10 overs. Meanwhile, the two Pakistan batters - Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali - have scored at a decent strike rate. Azhar has changed his gears while Imam has been scoring consistently from the other end. The partnership between the two is now of 42 runs. It's really frustrating for Australia.
PAK 147/1 (50)
02:20 PM IST: Australia Keep It Tight
Australian bowlers have kept it tight so far in the second session as Pakistan scored just 8 runs off the 5 overs since the break. Lyon started with a maiden over before captain Pat Cummins acconpanied him from the other end.
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PAK 113/1 (40)
02:08 PM IST: Match Resumes
Nathan Lyon starts the proceedings in the second session. Imam faces him.
01:04 PM IST: Lunch Break, PAK 105/1 (35)
That’s really good performance from Pakistan in the first two-and-a-half hours. Their openers took time to settle but one they dug in their heels they made sure they extracted the most out of the opportunity. Though Abdullah Shafique could mourn for throwing his wicket away that too just before lunch, Pakistan would be happy with their performance after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
Imam-ul-Haq goes to the break with his 57 not out off 99. It should ne noted that the lunch break is going to be of one hour.
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12:59 PM IST: Wicket
Australia finally have something to cheer as Abdullah Shafique departs on 44. He came down the track to take on Nathan Lyon but mishit it and Pat Cummins did a really nice job to run to his back and take the catch.
Azhar Ali is the next batter.
PAK 105/1 (34)
12: 45 PM IST: 100-Run Partnership
The duo of Shafique and Imam have added unbeaten 100 runs for the opening wicket. Both the openers have capitalised beautifully on the opportunities they have got so far in the innings.
Australia need wickets badly.
PAK 100/0 (31.3)
12: 30 PM IST: Fifty For Imam
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Imam-ul-Haq Races to his 4th Test fifty. He has been the aggressor in this innings scoring at a strike rate of over 60.
PAK 89/0 (28)
12: 20 PM IST: Pakistan In Driver's Seat
That's really good batting from the Shafique-Imam duo. The pair is defending it well, and striking it well too. Imam has been more vocal with the bat in the past 5 overs.
PAK 82/0 (26)
12: 01 PM IST: Pakistan Accelerating
Both the Pakistani openers Shafique and Imam are now troubling the Australian bowlers. They are scoring on every opportunity they are getting. Nathan Lyon has been impressive but unlucky enough to stay deprived of a wicket.
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PAK 65/0 (21)
11: 41 AM IST: Good Start For Pakistan
Some intent from Pakistan batters in the past 6 overs as they scored 29 off it. The scoring included a six from Abdullah Shafique that came on the ball of Nathan Lyon. Australia have not got any wicket despite some really close chances.
On the other hand, Shafique (29 off 51) has rotated the strike well in comparison to Imam-ul-Haq who is at 12 off 45 balls.
PAK 43/0 (16)
11: 18 AM IST: Just 3 Came Off Last 5 Overs
Pakistan have scored just 3 runs off the last 5 overs, but most importantly, they haven't lost any wicket.
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PAK 14/0 (10)
10: 56 AM IST: Australia Lose Review
Mitchell Starc had trapped Imam-ul-Haq in front of the stumps and appealed loud for it. Umpire was unmoved and Australia decided to go upstairs. The ball was found to be going over the stumps.
PAK 11/0 (5)
10:30 AM IST: Game Time
Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq open the batting for Pakistan. Mitchell Starc bowls the first over.
10:29 AM IST: Australian Player Wear Black Armbands
The Australian players have taken the field on Friday with black armbands tied. The gesture has been done to pay homage to legendary Australian wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh who passed away at 74 after suffering a heart attack
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10:23 AM IST: A Day To Remember For Virat Kohli
Around 475 kilometres away from Rawalpindi, former India cricketer and batting legend Virat Kohli is playing his 100th Test match. Follow the game (IND Vs SL 1st Test) live here.
10:13 AM IST: Playing XIs
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (w), Iftikhar Ahmed, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (w), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
10:04 AM IST: Pakistan Opt To Bat
The hosts have won the toss in Rawalpindi and have opted the bat first against visiting Australian team.
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09:56 AM IST: Welcome Guys
Hello everyone and welcome to the live blog of Pakistan Vs Australia 1st Test that kicks off today in Rawalpindi.
Australia play three Test matches within 22 days, part of International Cricket Council’s World Test Championship, before competing in a three-match ODI series and a one-off Twenty20 against Pakistan.
Rain played spoilsport in Australia's build-up for the first Test in Rawalpindi, a venue where Mark Taylor's team had won in 1998. The Pindi pitch looks good for batting and Australia will back their top seven to battle the Pakistan bowling attack which will be led by paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi.
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Spin is expected to play a role in this series. With 415 wickets in 105 Test matches, Nathan Lyon will share the major workload of Australian slow bowlers. Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar and uncapped 28-year-old leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson are also in selection contention if Australia opt to go into the first Test with two specialist spinners.
Pakistan suffered a setback when fast bowler Haris Rauf tested positive for COVID-19 and was ruled out of the first Test. Rauf was in contention to make his test debut in his Rawalpindi hometown after fast bowler Hasan Ali and all-rounder Faheem Ashraf were ruled out of the test due to injuries they picked up in the Pakistan Super League last week.
