Sports

Pakistan vs Australia: Labuschagne, Smith remembered as chances to score centuries on Day 4 of Rawalpindi Test

March 7, 2022
Bharat Times English News

Rawalpindi Test: Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith shone with the bat as Australia closed on Pakistan’s first innings total but headed for a historic Test draw.

Steve Smith scored 78 in his first Test innings in Pakistan (AP Photo)

highlighted

  • Australia lead at stumps on 449/7 on Day 4, trailing by 27 runs
  • Labuschagne and Smith dominated Monday with the bat
  • Nauman Ali took 4 wickets for Pakistan on the fourth day

The historic Test between Pakistan and Australia in Rawalpindi is headed for a relatively boring draw as the visitors dominated with the bat on the fourth day but were still trailing by 27 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith enjoyed with the bat but missed hundreds as the wet outfield washed out the first session on Monday.

Australia reached 449/7 at stumps after Smith and Labuschagne delighted the Rawalpindi crowd with their class. Mitchell Starc was on 12 when bad light stopped play with skipper Pat Cummins scoring four at the other end.

Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali picked up four wickets for Pakistan, including Smith and Cameron Green, trying to press the accelerator in Rawalpindi on Monday.

Labuschagne, Smith Miss Hundreds

Marnus Labuschagne contributed 90 and Steve Smith contributed 78 runs in the strong batting performance of the tourists.
Earlier, Pakistan struck twice in the morning session, after which the day’s action was delayed. Smith was the fourth batsman in Australia’s top four to cross the 50 mark but could not convert it into a century.

Armed with the second new ball, Shaheen Afridi inspired a loose drive from Labuschagne and Abdullah Shafiq dived to his right to take a sharp catch at slips. Labuschagne’s fluent innings included 12 fours.

Travis Head scored eight runs and then spinner Nauman Ali and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan took a smart catch behind the stumps.

Cameron Green (48), who was still not born when Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998, started well but could have had a fifth half-century in his top six. Green shorts his sweep against Nauman and finds Iftikhar at short fine leg.

Left-arm spinner Nauman (4–107) continued to bowl outside the leg stump, which also earned him the prize wicket of Smith, who bowled Rizwan while attempting a sweep shot.