Cricket

Shafique, Imam Hit Tons On Final Day As First Test Ends In A Draw

Sentinel Digital Desk

Rawalpindi: Openers Abdullah Shafique (136 not out) and Imam-ul-Haq (111 not out) dominated visitors bowlers and smashed unbeaten centuries on Day 5 as the first Test of the three match series between Pakistan and Australia ended in a draw, here on Tuesday.

The draw that had loomed large for much of the first Test was confirmed with an hour remaining on the final day. The two teams finally shook hands with Pakistan's score reading 252/0 in their second innings.

Resuming at 449 for 7, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc aimed to take a first-innings lead. To put pressure on the batters, Pakistan started with Shaheen Afridi. However, Nauman Ali, who had already taken four wickets, dismissed Pat Cummins in his first over of the day, completing his third five-wicket haul. Shaheen in the very next over then trapped Starc in front, ending his innings on 13.

After Nathan Lyon was trapped in front of the stumps while sweeping Ali, Pakistan wrapped up Australia's innings on 459/10 in the first 20 minutes of the day with Nauman bagging his career-best figures of 6-107.

Brief scores: Pakistan 476/4 decl (Azhar Ali 185, Imam-ul-Haq 157; Pat Cummins 1-62) and 252/0 (Abdullah Shafique 136 not out, Imam-ul-Haq 111 not out) drew with Australia 459 (Usman Khawaja 97, Marnus Labuschagne 90; Nauman Ali 6-107).

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