ISLAMABAD, (Reuters) – Abdullah Shafique’s late dismissal was the only blot in an otherwise sparkling session for Pakistan who reached 105 for one at lunch on the opening day of the first test against Australia in Rawalpindi yesterday.
After Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track, openers Abdullah and Imam-ul-Haq responded with a 105-run stand.
Nathan Lyon dismissed Abdullah for 44 in the penultimate over before lunch to ensure Australia finished the two-and-half-hour session on a more positive note.
Imam was not completely at ease initially, but used his feet well against the spinners and was on 57 at lunch with Azhar Ali yet to open his account at the other end.
Australia are in Pakistan for the first time in 24 years for a full tour, which could potentially lead to regular visits by top teams who have largely stayed away since a 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore.
Australia players wore black armbands in memory of former wicketkeeper Rod Marsh who died aged 74 Thursday. The teams also observed a minute’s silence for the Australian stalwart.
Josh Hazlewood returned from a side injury to replace Scott Boland in Australia’s three-pronged pace attack but an early breakthrough eluded the tourists.
Cummins used up a review trying to get Imam lbw by Mitchell Starc, then introduced spin in the eighth over. But Abdullah stepped out to hit Lyon over the long-on rope for a six and Imam would later give Australia’s frontline spinner the same treatment.
Lyon finally broke the stand when Abdullah stepped out only to sky the ball high in the air, allowing Cummins to run from mid-off to take a tumbling catch.
Cummins was yet to use all-rounder Cameron Green, who was not even born when Australia last toured Pakistan in 1998.
