The Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored 196 runs in the fourth innings of the match against Australia to take his place amongst a series of legendary record holders.
Karachi: The Australia versus Pakistan test match ended in a draw after the Australians failed to bowl out their opponents in the fourth innings. The Pakistan captain Babar Azam missed out on his double ton but his 196 runs saved his team from the jaws of defeat.
Along with Azam, Shafique and Rizwan also played their parts well but captain’s performance out shadowed all. Australia had a total of 556/7 runs in the first innings while the Pakistanis managed a mere 148 runs after the fall of 10 wickets in their first innings.
Australia batted for their second innings and set a chase of 506 runs for Pakistan. Pakistan went out to bat in the fifth day with loss of two wickets early in their innings.
Pakistan at 277 for the fall of 4 wickets was looking good for Australia’s chances at winning. But, the Pakistani captain stood like a wall in front of the Australian bowling attack and scored his first Test hundred in two years and then turned it into his highest score. Labuschagne and Lyon’s joint effort stopped Azam from reaching 200.
Azam’s list of records
- Azam on his way to defend his team from loss, himself entered into the list of elite players like Virat Kohli, Ricky Ponting and Don Bradman when it comes to fourth innings batting. Babar’s 196 left behind Don Bradman, Virat Kohli and Ricky Ponting’s fourth innings batting bests of 173 not out, 156 and 141 respectively.
- He even went ahead of the legendary Brian Lara whose fourth innings best is an unbeaten 153.
- He became the first Asian to stay on pitch for more than 10 hours in the fourth innings of a match.
- He is only second to England’s former captain Mike Atherton who holds the record to stay longest on pitch in the fourth innings of a match. Azam has stayed 36 minutes less than Atherton.
- Azam(465) joined the league of Sunil Gavaskar(443) Herbert Sutcliffe(462) and Mike Atherton(492) to play more than 400 balls in the fourth innings of a Test match. Pakistan and Australia will compete in the third and final test match with series equalled at 0-0.
Published By: Apoorva Wakodikar
Edited By: Subbuthai Padma
