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PAK vs AUS | 1st Test | Day 5: Openers provide brisk start to Pakistan in second innings

Pakistan openers were off to a brisk start in the second innings on the final day of the first Test against Australia in Rawalpindi. While Imam-ul-Haq who had scored a scintillating ton in the first innings continued his form and notched up a fifty during the course, his opening partner Abdullah Shafique also scored a fifty as the two batters helped the side go past 100-run mark without losing a wicket and stretching the lead over 125 runs. 

The visitors were earlier bowled out for 459, in reply to Pakistan’s 476/4 (D) in the first innings after spinner Nauman Ali scalped a six-wicket haul. 

Opener Usman Khawaja and batter Marnus Labuschagne missed out on scoring individual centuries. Khawaja was out for 97 while Labuschagne was undone for 90. Apart from these two, Steve Smith and David Warner scored individual fifties for the team. 

Australia are touring Pakistan for the first time in 24 years. The action will shift to Karachi for the second Test scheduled to begin on March 12, 2022 and the sides will then travel to Lahore where they will play the third and the final clash, beginning on March 21, 2022.  

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ICC Women's CWC 2022 | AUSW vs PAKW: 'Disciplined' Australia etch comprehensive win

A clinical performance from Australia against Pakistan in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 fixture handed them a comfortable 7-wicket win in Mount Maunganui. Chasing 191, the Australian side were off to a decent start with openers Alyssa Healy and Rachael Haynes putting up 60 runs for the first wicket. Haynes was then dismissed for 34 off 34 by Nashra Sandhu and Healy was joined by Meg Lanning. The two batters then stitched a stand of 63 runs for the second wicket. While Healy went on to score a fifty, Lanning was undone for 35 off 37. Healy was the third wicket to fall as she was caught by Sandhu off Omaima Sohail for a 79-ball 72 but her departure didn’t really create much of a problem for the Australian team as Ellyse Perry and Beth Mooney took them over the line in the 35th over. Earlier, in the day, the Australian bowlers thoroughly dominated the Pakistan batting unit, barring Maroof and Aliya Riaz. Australia picked up early wickets and reduced Pakistan to 44/4 before Maroof and Riaz joined hands and tried to steady the ship for the team. The batters provided the much-needed resistance with a partnership of 99 runs before Riaz was eventually dismissed for 53 off 109. Maroof on the other side, remained unbeaten at 78 off 122 as Pakistan managed to put 190/6 in 50 overs on the board. “It was a much better performance all-round. We had to make sure we adapt quickly, pretty happy with the performance today. We got to take 10 wickets, that slows down the run rate. We were disciplined while bowling and we kept the run rate in check,” Lanning said after the match. This is Pakistan’s second consecutive defeat in the competition.