Pakistan Vs Australia 1st test match closes with dramatic end
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DUBAI – Australians turned their defeat to a draw against Pakistan as Yasir Shah struck late in the first Test in Dubai on Thursday.
Shah ended opener Usman Khawaja’s fighting innings at 141 and then removed Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle in quick succession to reduce Australia to 333-8, keeping Pakistan’s victory hopes alive till the last over of the final day.
Earlier, Pakistan had declared their second innings at 181 thus setting a target of 462 runs to win. In reply, Australia managed 362 runs on the loss of eight wickets.
But Nathan Lyon and skipper Tim Paine batted out the crucial last overs to engineer Australia’s escape from defeat. Australia were set a daunting 462-run target by Pakistan in the second innings.
Pakistan failed to get a single wicket in the first session after Australia resumed at 136-3. Khawaja took a single to short mid-wicket off to Mohammad Hafeez to complete his century.
No team has successfully chased more than the 418-7 West Indies made against Australia in the Antigua Test in 2003.
Pakistan had expected early wickets after jolting Australia to 136-3 at the close on the fourth day, but nothing worked for skipper Sarfraz Ahmed, who made multiple bowling changes.
