On the first day of the historic trophy’s first Test match against Australia, Pakistan’s top-order batters remained dominant. Left-handed batter Imam-ul-Haq made a strong comeback, scoring 105 runs in his opening stand with Abdullah Shafique and then 140 runs with Azhar Ali, finishing the day with 245 runs at a loss of one wicket.
It is the first time in Australian Test history that the opposing team has built a hundred-run partnership on the first wicket and then another hundred-run partnership on the second wicket while playing the first Test of the series.
It has also never happened before in a test match that the Australian Test team allows the opposing team to build a century-run partnership on the first and second wickets of the inning while bowling first.
However, an English batter did this in the 1932-33 Ashes series, also known as Bodyline, but Australia had batted first in that match.
Concerning the match, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and chose to bat first at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Nathan Lyon, an Australian spin bowler, provided some resistance against the left-right combination, but the opening pair played the bowler with great technique.
However, Nathan broke the first partnership at 105, and Imam and veteran batter Azhar Ali led the team to a safe zone and finished the day first at 245.
To read our blog on “After Peshawar attack, Cricket Australia is keeping a close eye on Pakistan’s tour,” click here.
