ISLAMABAD (Reuters) – Australia run-machine Steve Smith was kicking himself after lacking out on a hundred on a “lifeless” Rawalpindi wicket on Monday because the opening take a look at in opposition to Pakistan headed for a draw.
Each of Australia’s prime 4 batsmen handed the 50-mark however couldn’t convert them into lots of on a flat observe which yielded 925 runs and 11 wickets over 4 days of a run-feast.
Smith made 78 earlier than falling to Nauman Ali’s leg-side entice and perished caught behind attempting to brush the left-arm spinner.
“Pretty annoying. I bought a bit grasping there with the sector they’d set,” the prolific batsman informed reporters after Australia completed on 449-7 replying to Pakistan’s 476-4 declared on the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
“Disappointed. I’d labored fairly exhausting and bought myself in a pleasant place to go on and get an enormous rating. So dissatisfied with the shot choice,” he added.
The prospect of victory by any aspect evaporated after a moist outfield brought on by in a single day rain had worn out all the morning session on the penultimate day.
Smith felt his dismissal denied Australia a possibility to grad the lead and push for victory on the ultimate day.
“Perhaps if we have been 5 (wickets) down we would have been in a position to push slightly more durable within the morning and probably set one thing up…” the previous captain stated.
“You by no means know if you happen to get a 100 lead what can occur so, yeah, a bit disappointing.”
Asked for his view of the pitch, which has drawn criticism for an unfair contest between bat and ball, Smith referred to as it a “benign” floor.
“There’s not a substantial amount of tempo and bounce in it for the seamers. I feel the spinners have provided slightly bit,” the 32-year-old stated.
“I believed it will break up slightly bit extra and possibly flip a bit extra from the beginning, nevertheless it in all probability hasn’t finished so.
“Pretty benign, lifeless wicket.”
(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; enhancing by Ken Ferris)