Babar Azam wills Pakistan to unlikely draw to set up deciding Lahore Test

A heroic 196-run innings courtesy of Pakistani skipper Babar Azam has helped will Pakistan to one of the most unlikely draws in recent Test match history in Karachi, setting up a winner-take-all third Test in Lahore on Monday.

Babar started the day’s play not out on 102 with opener Abdullah Shafique alongside him on 72 and the side at 2-for-192, chasing a mammoth total of 506. Their 228-run partnership was eventually broken by Pat Cummins who caught the edge of Shafique four runs short of his century. Fawad Alam reached just nine before Cummins found another edge.

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Babar and Mohammad Rizwan then put together a dominant 115-run partnership before the skipper fell for 196, when he gloved a Nathan Lyon delivery into his pads that was caught by Marnus Labuschagne at short leg. Babar’s innings was a spectacular one; the Pakistani skipper finished with the highest fourth innings score in his nation’s history. Faheem Ashraf was dismissed by Lyon on his first ball and Sajid Khan only lasted four overs before Lyon claimed his wicket. Rizwan, who finished unbeaten on 104, and Nauman Ali saw out the final few overs to hold on for a draw.

Lyon finished with innings-best figures of 4-for-112, whilst Cummins and Cameron Green also featured in the wickets column. Debutant Mitchell Swepson looked dangerous for long stretches but was unable to breakthrough, finishing with figures of 0-for-156. The innings was yet another example of the Australian attack’s inability to find wickets when needed late in Test matches and not winning games there for the taking.

Both sides will now play off for the inaugural Benaud-Qadir Trophy in a winner-take-all third Test match at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, beginning Monday afternoon.