The fourth day of the test match was a significant improvement for the Pakistan Cricket Team compared to the third day. Captain Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique displayed determination, pushing the match towards either a draw or a win, setting the stage for an exciting final day. Babar Azam playing on 102* while Abdullah Shafique on 71*. Pakistan has to play 90 more overs to score 314 runs to win this match or at least to save the match while Australia need 8 wickets.
Australian Captain Pat Cummins who declared inning on 97/2 with target of 506 runs in 172 overs.
On the third day of the game, Pakistan found themselves in a difficult position when they slipped to 148 runs. Pat Cummins took the opportunity to apply pressure. In the second innings, after losing two early wickets of Imam-ul-Haq (1) and Azhar Ali (6) at 2/1 and 21/2 respectively, they both went on to form a world record partnership of 171 runs.
Babar Azam completed his century in style and gestured to the dressing room that he is not going any where an will stay at the crease till the odds ended. Babar Azam considering final day a big day for both the teams and said there is plenty of hard work to do on final day.
“Match is not over yet, tomorrow is big day an they will continue to play the way they played today, We practiced the reverse swing before coming here and tried to play late and close to body and my message to all batsmen coming after me that keep calm and committed” Babar Azam said at day end talk.
The Australian bowling attack tried various strategies to get the wicket, but they were unsuccessful. Even Pat Cummins, who got the new ball for the last two overs, bowled in the block hole, but Babar Azam managed to defend with his bat.
There is still chance for us and fifth day will be interesting said Assistant coach Australian Cricket team Michael Di Venuto at day end presser.
“We are looking for break through and 20 overs are very important for us to get in, but look the important thing is for us to break this partnership and than the surface can help which has plenty of bounce and turn also there” said in press conference.
Mitchell Swepson bowled impressively as a debutant, staying on target throughout, but unfortunately, he couldn’t secure any wickets. Despite this, he remains a real threat for the Pakistan team on day five.
Pakistan batsmen yet to bat are Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Hassan Ali and Shaheen Afridi.
Australia 556/9d & 97/2d Usman Khawaja 160 & 44, Alex Carey 93, Steve Smith 72
Pakistan 148 & 192/2 Babar Azam 36 & 102*, Abdulla Shafique 13 & 71*
