Lahore Test evenly poised after Pakistan openers make brisk start

Pakistan’s openers gave their team something to cheer about at the end of a hard day’s toil. They ended the fourth day with an unbeaten partnership of 73, setting up an intriguing final day. Australia had set them a target of 351 on the back of Usman Khawaja’s second ton of the series, and made a proactive declaration in the final session but were defied by Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq.

The duo survived a couple of close shaves through reviews but put in a solid stand that laid a good foundation to a stiff chase. Their solid stand reversed Pakistan’s fortunes over the day, but kept up with the larger narrative of bat prevailing over ball, where only three wickets fell on the fourth day on a slow pitch.

For Australia with the bat, it was Khawaja who held the innings together with an unbeaten 101. He added useful partnerships worth 96 and 64 with David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne respectively as Australia took themselves to a commanding position.

The tone was set early in the day by Australia’s openers who were largely untroubled right through the first session, despite a few misbehaving deliveries. And although Pakistan’s bowlers tried to bowl straight, restrictive lines they were unable to check the boundaries, that were easy to pick off when there was even a slight error.

Both batters were adept at playing to their strengths. Warner got to his second fifty of the series after accelerating through the forties with a slog-swept six against left-arm spinner Nauman Ali who came in only late in the first session. Warner attempted no other big shot until then. However, he had kickstarted the day with three boundaries off a Shaheen Afridi over that put the pressure on early.

He had a slice of luck too, on 16, when a thin outside edge was not spotted by anyone on the field. Hasan Ali, the bowler, was left dismayed on spotting it on the replays. Pakistan’s rotten luck continued against Khawaja as well, who was bowled on 31 by Naseem Shah only for the third umpire to intervene with a no-ball call. Khawaja soon also survived an LBW review against the same bowler when replays confirmed a thin outside edge.

Afridi finally got something to go Pakistan’s way with a peach of an away-seaming delivery knocking back Warner’s off stump minutes before the break. Labuschagne, who came in next, had his fair share of nervous moments and was even dropped by Nauman Ali while trying to take on the spinners. But gradually, both he and Khawaja hit their stride in the second session.

The biggest threat that Khawaja faced was when the pacers got a few balls to keep low, but survived some tense moments to stroke his way through to a memorable hundred. Labsuchagne, who was intent on getting on top of the spinners, finally perished while trying to sweep out of the rough and giving Nauman his first wicket.

But Khawaja and Smith got Australia past 300 and gave it another boost for about half an hour into the final session before Pat Cummins declared. Their domination, however, was left incomplete after Pakistan’s defiance late in the day.

Brief scores:

Australia 391 (Usman Khawaja 91; Naseem Shah 4-58) & 227/3 decl(Usman Khawaja 104*, David Warner 51) lead Pakistan 268 (Abdullah Shafique 81, Azhar Ali 78; Pat Cummins 5-56, Mitchell Starc 4-33) and 73/0 (Imam ul Haq 42*) by 278 runs.