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Opener Usman Khawaja missed a century by nine on Monday and Steve Smith fell short of completing 8 000 runs as Australia ended the opening day of the third and final Test on 232-5 against Pakistan in Lahore.
Australia could have been 1-0 up in the ongoing three-match Test series against Pakistan. After settling for a draw in the opening Test in Rawalpindi, they created a few chances to seal the deal in the second Test in Karachi, but failed to grab them. One big potential turning point was in the 168th over when Usman Khawaja dropped Mohammad Rizwan off Mitchell Swepson's delivery, The wicket-keeper batsman went on to score an unbeaten ton to help the hosts salvage a draw. Rizwan, who scored an unbeaten 104 in Pakistan's second innings after Babar Azam's majestic 196 put Pakistan in control, was dropped on 91 by Khawaja. Australia fell short of a win by three wickets on the final day.
There has been a lot of talk around the pitch ever since the Pakistan vs Australia Test series began earlier this month. Tons of runs have been scored by batters of both sides in the two drawn Tests so far with bowlers having to toil hard on pitches that had little help for seamers and spinners alike. The pitch for the first Test in Rawalpindi, where close to 1200 runs were scored in just three innings at the cost of only 14 wickets, was in fact rated as "below average" by ICC. Although Australian seamers managed to bowl Pakistan out for 148 in the first innings of the second Test in Karachi after posting 500-plus in their first innings, the hosts bated for 171.4 overs in the fourth innings to walk away with a draw. Amid all the discussion around how pitches in Pakistan have so far made matters difficult for the bowlers, former Pakistan spinners Saeed Ajmal shared a slightly different opinion.
(Reuters) - Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and decided to bat in the third and final test against Pakistan in Lahore on Monday.
Pakistan and Australia meet at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third and final Test of the series, with the series level at 0-0 after two contrasting draws.
Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 1, Live Score Updates: Skippers Babar Azam and Pat Cummins will have one eye on the trophy as they aim to clinch the Test series in decider in Lahore. Cummins won the toss and opted to bat against Pakistan in Lahore. The first two Tests in Rawalpindi and Karachi, both ended in draws as the pitches came into the limelights for all the negative reasons. However, the travelling Australian team will want to grab this last opportunity on the tour of a Test series victory in Pakistan after displaying some exceptional cricketing skills in the second Test against the hosts. (LIVE SCORECARD)
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ramiz Raja was elated after Pakistan managed to salvage a draw from the jaws of defeat in the recently-concluded second Test against Australia at the National Stadium in Karachi. Chasing a daunting total of 506 runs, Pakistan lost the wickets of openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali early. However, skipper Babar Azam slammed a brilliant 196, while fighting knocks from Mohammad Rizwan (104) and Abdullah Shafique (96) eventually forced the series to a decider. Notably, the first Test in Rawalpindi had also ended in a draw.
The final Test match between Pakistan and Australia will be played from March 21 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. The series is currently level at nil-nil after the first two Test in Rawalpindi and Karachi ended in draws. Australia named an unchanged final XI for the final Test, which revealed that pacer Josh Hazlewood would again be sitting out. Pakistan, on the other hand, will be overjoyed to have their batters in form in the second Test as they can now to aim to clinch the series in the deciding Test.