Babar Azam's marathon innings earns Pakistan thrilling draw against Australia in Karachi

Pakistan made a daring attempt to pull off the most successful chase in Test history before fighting it out for a draw in the second Test against Australia in Karachi, with captain Babar Azam hitting 196 in one of the greatest innings of modern times.

They were then set a world-record target of 506 with a little under two day's play remaining. Day 4 was all about survival but the final day saw Pakistan make a brave charge at the target.

Overnight centurion Babar and opening batsman Abdullah Shafique continued to defy the dispirited Aussie bowlers in the morning session. Shafique, who hit 136 not out in the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi, drove visiting captain Pat Cummins for a boundary to reach 96.

Babar batted for 425 balls with 21 fours and one six, falling four short of a brilliant double ton. His knock was the longest fourth innings effort by a Pakistan batsman and the driving force behind the home team's effort that stalled at 443-7 on Wednesday.

Wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan completed the rescue mission for Pakistan as he reached his century in the penultimate over of the match.

The hosts were headed for near-certain defeat after they were bowled out for 148 on Day 3 of the Test in reply to Australia's daunting first innings score of 556-9 declared.

But in his next over the Australian pacer drew the right-hander into another drive which this time found the edge and Steve Smith held on to the catch, making amends for dropping the same batsman, on 20, from a more straightforward chance at slip off Cummins the day before.

That ended an epic third-wicket stand of 228 between Shafique and Babar, with the score on 249.

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