Pakistan showed a gritty display with a rearguard action for the ages as they played out five sessions to draw the second Test match against Australia at Karachi, with captain Babar Azam leading from the front.
A record-breaking century by Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s rearguard act late in the day secured a historic draw for the hosts.
Babar Azam who scored 196 runs in a battling performance broke several records. He became the first-ever Asian player to stay for more than 10 hours in the 4th innings of a Test match.
His innings of 196 are the highest 4th innings individual score by any captain in the history of Test Cricket.
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This is also Pakistan’s highest 4th innings individual score. The previous highest record was held by Younis Khan who had scored 171 against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015.
Babar also joined the company of Mike Atherton (492), Herbert Sutcliffe (462) and Sunil Gavaskar (443) to become the only 4th bowler to play 400+ deliveries in 4th innings of a Test match.
He earlier surpassed Shoaib Malik (369) in playing most deliveries by a Pakistani in the 4th innings of a Test. Malik’s record of 488 minutes batting against Sri Lanka in 2006 was also broken by Babar in this innings.
Earlier, Babar, along with his partner Abdullah Shafiq, created the record of most partnership balls by a pair in the 4th innings of a Test.
They played 520 balls to score 228 runs for the third wicket to surpass India’s Deep Dasgupta and Rahul Dravid who had played 500 deliveries as batting partners in the 4th innings of Test against South Africa in 2001.
Pakistan were at one stage reduced to 21/2 in the final innings, chasing 506, but Babar along with Abdullah Shafique formed a 228-run stand for the third wicket. Shafique missed out on his century as he was sent back to the pavilion by Pat Cummins in the 109th over of the innings.
Cummins got rewarded for his disciplined show post Lunch when Fawad Alam edged an angling in delivery just outside the offstump to the wicketkeeper. However, despite bagging the second wicket of the day, Australia couldn’t assert themselves. Pakistan continued to remain dour and watchful through to Tea.
When the final session of play resumed, the equation had kept all possibilities open – 36 overs, 196 runs, 6 wickets. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam were quick to put the pressure on the Australians, pouncing on scoring opportunities. In the first over after Tea, Rizwan hit Swepson for two boundaries through the midwicket region – a pull to a short-pitched delivery and a flick to a full toss. In the first two overs, Pakistan collected 20 overs and made their intent clear to go after the target.
Babar, who had registered the record of the longest time spent at the crease in fourth innings of a Test and most runs by a captain in the fourth innings, eventually fell on 196 – the 425th ball of his near 10-hour vigil
Lyon, after dismissing Babar, even had Faheem Ashraf and Sajid Khan edging to Steve Smith at slips. His four wickets, after bowling 55 overs, allowed Australia to push for a victory. But Rizwan who had settled in well by then, expertly manuvered through that challenge. Nauman Ali offered him support from the other end, defending 18 balls without scoring. Late in the day, Rizwan also brought up his second Test century and shut Australia’s attempt at a victory.