Alex Carey falls short of first century as Australia dominate Pakistan in second Test

Alex Carey fell seven runs short of his first century as Australia's batters maintained control of the second Test in Karachi on Sunday.

The tourists reached stumps on 505-8 on a day of painstaking accumulation where the bowlers kept the run rate under check but only five wickets fell in three sessions for all their hard work under a blazing sun.

Usman Khawaja scored a marathon 160 from 369 balls while Carey — in his haste to reach the 100 mark before close of play — fell to a delivery from part-time spinner Babar Azam that kept low.

Carey's stellar knock came off 159 balls and featured seven fours and two sixes. “Yeah, I guess you want to make those triple figures,” he said. “The way the game is going, I think it was quite an important knock in the end.

“Tomorrow we'll see what the skipper does but it's great to have 500 runs on the board. If we can get as many runs as possible in this first innings, hopefully the pitch starts to deteriorate tomorrow and on day four and we can create those 20 chances.

“So the more runs we get now, the better position we'll be in if we have to bat again. I think [the pitch] starting to show signs of inconsistency.”

Australia began Day 2 on 251-3, with Shaheen Afridi quickly subjecting Nathan Lyon to a bouncer barrage but the nightwatchman did not flinch and went on the attack with the pull shot.

Lyon hit five fours in an entertaining 38 before he had his stumps rearranged by an express delivery from Faheem Ashraf, ending a 54-run stand with Khawaja.

Khawaja had shelved the reverse sweep on Saturday but Pakistan were convinced they had him caught in the slips when the opener attempted the shot against Nauman Ali. However, replays ruled out any ball-bat contact and Pakistan lost a review.