KARACHI, Pakistan (Reuters) – Australia captain Pat Cummins dismissed Abdullah Shafique for 96 to end the batsman’s marathon 228-run stand with Babar Azam and enhance the vacationers’ possibilities of profitable the second take a look at towards Pakistan on Wednesday.
Abdullah and Babar batted almost 87 overs collectively in a spectacular rearguard to maintain Pakistan afloat chasing a file victory goal of 506 on the National Stadium.
Cummins struck within the penultimate over earlier than the lunch break to separate them and Pakistan have been 254-3 on the ultimate day of the competition.
Babar, who accomplished his sixth take a look at hundred on Tuesday, soldiered on to be unbeaten on 133, which included 15 boundaries.
Fawad Alam was batting on three on the different end with Pakistan nonetheless 252 behind the goal with two periods to go.
Earlier, Australia started the ultimate day needing eight wickets to go 1-0 up within the three-test sequence.
Pakistan, alternatively, required 314 runs in 90 overs to pull off take a look at cricket’s biggest chase or, alternatively, bat out three periods to pressure a draw.
Mitchell Starc’s reverse swing had tormented Pakistan within the first innings and the left-arm fast resumed Australia’s efforts to end the Babar-Abdullah stand.
Starc and Cummins couldn’t succeed instantly and Babar greeted Mitchell Swepson with back-to-back fours when the leg spinner was launched into the assault.
Cummins lastly broke the stand when he induced Abdullah right into a drive and Steve Smith, who had dropped the opener on 20 on Tuesday, took a waist-high catch at slip.
Abdullah hit six fours and a six throughout his 305-ball vigil.
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Mark Potter)
