PAK vs AUS: Imam hits successive centuries in drawn 1st test

Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq hit a century in each innings for Pakan as Australia could bag only four wickets on a docile pitch in the drawn first test on Tuesday.
Imam followed his 157 in the first innings total of 476-4 declared with an unbeaten 111 in his first test since November 2019.
Imam’s opening partner, Abdullah Shafique, also prospered to record his maiden test hundred and was unbeaten on 136 when Pakan finished the fifth and final day on 252-0 in its second innings, leading 269 runs.

Both openers scoring 💯s in a Test innings for Pakan 🇵🇰 #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/aufqGqN4BO
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 8, 2022
Both teams mutually agreed to end the game with an hour remaining.
Shafique hit 15 fours and a six in his 242-ball knock while Imam was more watchful in raising his hundred and faced 223 balls, hitting seven fours and two sixes.

🤝 #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/JK0WXmWwC2
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 8, 2022
The second opening stand between Imam and Abdullah surpassed Pakan’s previous best against Australia in 1964 when Khalid Ibadulla and Abdul Kadir combined for 249 in Karachi.
Shafique and Imam also became the first Pakan opening pair to share a century stand in each innings against Australia after combining for 105 runs in the first innings.

Match drawn! We head to Karachi for the second test now ✈️ #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/QjKb6G0Vez
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 8, 2022
It was a tough start for Australia to resume playing test cricket in Pakan after 24 years on a benign Pindi Cricket Stadium pitch which didn’t offer any lateral movement to the visitors’ three frontline pacers or turn to ace spinner Nathan Lyon.
Lyon bowled 78 overs and conceded 236 runs for the solitary wicket of Shafique in the first innings.

Abdullah Shafique’s maiden test century in the making- a treat to watch! #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS @imabd28 pic.twitter.com/2GqysSnscy
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 8, 2022
Australia’s innings was wrapped up in the first four overs of the day when it was all out for 459 after resuming on 449-7. Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali took a career-best 6-107 on the grassless pitch to give Pakan a 17-run, first-innings lead.
The 35-year-old Nauman, playing in his eighth test, picked up two of the last three wickets. The tailenders added only 10 runs off 19 balls as Nauman bettered his previous best figures of 5-35, which he took on debut against South Africa last year.

Maiden Test century for @imabd28 His teammates are delighted 👏👏#BoysReadyHain #PAKVAUS pic.twitter.com/hMAjXa4va1
— Pakan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 8, 2022
Shafique and Imam accelerated in the middle session as Australia resorted to Lyon and three part-time spinners without any success.
Abdullah raised his century in four hours off 183 balls in the last session when he tucked Cameron Green to fine leg for a single.

Imam took half an hour more to complete back-to-back hundreds lofting part-time spinner Travis Head over mid-off for two.
The second test begins in Karachi on Saturday. Lahore stages the final test from March 21-25. The test series will be followed three one-day internationals and a one-off Twenty20 in Rawalpindi.