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Babar Azam hits 102* as Pakistan fight back to reach 192/2 at Stumps on Day 4 in the 2nd Test

The moment

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need to get through new ball tonight and tomorrow morning.
 
It's flat pitch. Pakistan just needs to bat with the next 10 overs in mind.
 
Babar has played a wonderful knock so far.
He should always bat with intent.He should never adapt that defensive batting it doesn't suit his game.
 
192/2 at close.

Will be tough against new ball tomorrow. full days graft needed still to save the game.
 
Told ya that Aussies had made a tactical blunder yesterday by not enforcing the follow on and kicking Pakistan when they were at their most desperate. Now that we're only batting time they've allowed us back in the game. Australia may still win it tomorrow but it's 50-50 now compared to 100-0 if they would have put us back in.
 
Shan open with Shafique
Babar at 3
Saud Shakeel at 4

Shan is not a good opener, time and again he showed that he is not a fit there for opening ...

But has shown good promise at no.3 that too in SA when other batsmen struggle with the short ball.. Rmb Juanne Oliver got 2x 5fers in that series troubled the pak batsman with the short ball...
 
The odd delivery is starting to keep low. Interesting stat that they pulled up on the telly is that Karachi is the least friendly Sub-continent pitch for spinners. Will still be some effort to save the game. Babar will need to stay there and get a double century if Pakistan are to have any chance of saving the game.
 
Babar Azam | 102*(197): This knock means a lot to me, the team needed it. Fortunately I have managed to get a good partnership with Shafique. The match is not over yet, so we need to continue playing in the same way, and the other batters also need to step up. After the first innings, we practiced in the nets how to counter their reverse swing, just that we need to play slightly late.

AUS 556/9 d & 97/2 d
PAK 148 & 192/2 (82) CRR: 2.34
Day 4: Stumps - Pakistan need 314 runs
 
Fawad and Fahim if they have to bat will find it tough with extra rough outside their stumps and against reverse swing.

Its down to Babar and Abdullah to bat as long as possible tomorrow.
 
It is clear that Pakistan won't be able to chase this mammoth total, but lot of people have disappeared from the forum the moment Pak batters found momentum, so expecting them to land right at the time when collapse would start tomorrow.
 
First 40 overs at 2.5 = 100
Next 30 at 3.5 = 105
Last 20 at 5.5 = 110

Get it done boys
 
Session by session batting, lets not get carried away. 90 overs is a long time.

A session is too long, just take 10 overs at a time. Every 10 overs without a wicket, Aus will get more frustrated, and closer Pakistan will get to save this game.

Aus is still far ahead here. 2 more wickets and suddenly game will look different.
 
Fawad, Rizwan and Faheem better get their guard ready to bat 50 overs tomorrow. Need a collective team effort and not just rely on the guys that did the difficult job for us today.
 
It's a game of probabilities. And as we all see odds don't look in our favor.

IF we get into a defeatist mindset and attempt to draw the game by the Misbahism's approach of getting into a tuk tuk mode and create a self impose pressure, then our chances of losing are A LOT MORE HIGHER well before tea. I say 99.9999%.

You cannot save this game by tuk tuk method.


However, if we show some spine and brave up a little and play with a controlled aggression, and keep hitting it when there is an opportunity and keep rotating the strike without taking any pressure? then we have a better chance to stretch the defeat and perhaps also a very faint ray of hope to even win the game.

"If we are to lose, then why not die fighting?"
, should be the philosophy.

But knowing Pakistan cricket, I am 99.99% sure that we will take the route of drawing the game by following the block block, block and tuk tuk methodology. Which will become a matter of only one wicket.
Soon the first wicket falls on day five, the land slide will trigger.
 
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ball was reversing a bit late on, new ball is due straight away. Also possible also a new ball due in final session if we get there. Both batsmen need to be switched on tomorrow and cant afford a poor bad session early on.
 
Pakistan should try to chase this down if they don't lose any wicket before lunch.

Should be an exciting day 5.
 
It's a game of probabilities. And as we all see odds don't look in our favor.

IF we get into a defeatist mindset and attempt to draw the game by the Misbahism's approach of getting into a tuk tuk mode and create a self impose pressure, then our chances of losing are A LOT MORE HIGHER well before tea. I say 99.9999%.

You cannot save this game by tuk tuk method.


However, if we show some spine and brave up a little and play with a controlled aggression, and keep hitting it when there is an opportunity and keep rotating the strike without taking any pressure? then we have a better chance to stretch the defeat and perhaps also a very faint ray of hope to even win the game.

"If we are to lose, then why not die fighting?"
, should be the philosophy.

But knowing Pakistan cricket, I am 99.99% sure that we will take the route of drawing the game by following the block block, block and tuk tuk methodology. Which will become a matter of only one wicket.
Soon the first wicket falls on day five, the land slide will trigger.

Mate this is a long rant about Misbah for no reason.

Whatever you want to say about him as an ODI player his tuk tuk approach won us numerous test matches in Asia.

In fact his approach smashed Australia into oblivion in the UAE where in history they had managed to roll us out for 50 runs before.

I understand that Misbah is a copy and paste topic for you but have some sense when you post.

Save the copy and paste for an ODI match where it makes sense to make this argument.
 
The Babar Hundred highlights

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Problem with Babar has always been his inability to restart the innings after doing well the day before.

He's gotten out early a few times and he needs to stem that tide tomorrow.
 
Majority of the Pakistan batsmen struggle restarting the innings the next day - well done for ensuring PCB have 5th day sales.
 
The 5th day should be played like ODI. Score 300 in 50 overs. It will be easily won. We have Rizwan available too.
 
Draw should be the best option. New ball is only 2 overs old. And another new ball will be available for 12 overs tomorrow 79th-90th over.

It is a 5th day pitch, and ball is misbehaving, it is not a chennai pitch of 99 but tomorrow this pitch will ask
More questions. Fawad alam/Rizwan will have to grind out long innings tomorrow. I do not recall Rizwan as grinder type player, he plays hos shots and on this pitch it will be a big test of him tomorrow.
 
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First priority for Pakistan will be to get through the new ball period. Then, Pakistan needs to take it 50 runs at a time. Australians will resort to defensive tactics and field placings it things get tight. First priority make sure we live to fight another test match in Lahore. If it is remotely possible to chase this and if we are safe only then go for it.
 
Babar and Abdullah have given us a fighting chance of saving the game. Little bit of magic in the pitch - just about enough that I worry 1 wicket will lead to 2 or 3 in quick succession. If we are 5 down at lunch then it is game over.

We will are going to need Babar to score a double hundred to draw this game.
 
First priority for Pakistan will be to get through the new ball period. Then, Pakistan needs to take it 50 runs at a time. Australians will resort to defensive tactics and field placings it things get tight. First priority make sure we live to fight another test match in Lahore. If it is remotely possible to chase this and if we are safe only then go for it.

They need a win to keep Ramiz Raja in employment
 
Long way to go for Pakistan, Babar and Abdullah should be commended, these are not soft runs. While a draw would be like a win, I think Pakistan could collapse going for a home run as the chairman will be applying that pressure
 
The Babar Hundred highlights

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/q6ys3r" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>


Thanks!
Was looking forward to it.

Some really nice and classy strokes, and we also see some influence of T20 when he slapped 'em in the cow corner.

His straight drives behind the bowler's back are also a delight to watch but I guess the Aussies bowlers were careful not to give him anything straight and full on the middle/leg stump.

This was good stuff. Thanks again.
 
Hopefully Australian bowlers get so fatigued by the end of this match that in the third test, they would just lose steam.

This is Fawad's home ground. He has played his whole life here and scored thousands of runs. He needs to play a blockathon to draw the test.
 
Will Pak go for the win?

If they can score 80 each in first two sessions for 1-2 wicket,150 in last session is possible :)

Nicely set up
 
Problem with Babar has always been his inability to restart the innings after doing well the day before.

He's gotten out early a few times and he needs to stem that tide tomorrow.

Yes, it has happened to him a few times - he has been well set, in the 60s or 70s overnight and thrown his wicket away early the next day. I think, or I hope, that getting his century before close will lift that monkey off his back and he can just start again tomorrow morning, get another hundred because as I said before, we are going to need another big hundred from someone tomorrow to save this game. I hope it is Babar.
 
Australia would be bowling with the new ball tomr, thus, it would be crucialto survive the first few.

If Pakistan survives, than 8 overs of the new ball would be bowled in the final session
 
New ball won't do anything. The most important phase is between 20-40 overs when it's going to reverse. Hope Babar and Shafique stay for majority of the chase tomorrow. So excited and I'm having goosebumbs thinking about a 500+ chase. Fingers crossed!
 
Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique’s unbeaten 171-run stand has led Pakistan’s inspiring fightback in the ongoing second Test against Australia in Karachi. Can they build on it further to script history?

Babar Azam registered his sixth Test hundred, while Abdullah Shafique is steadily progressing towards his second to lead Pakistan’s fourth innings charge in Karachi. The hosts were 192/2 at the end of fourth day’s play, 314 away from a mountainous 506-run target.

Australia resumed the day on 81/1, and carried on until Marnus Labuschagne (44) chopped one on while attempting a pull off Shaheen Afridi 25 minutes into the day’s play. The visitors added 16 runs in 5.2 overs to declare their second innings at 97/2, with first-innings centurion Usman Khawaja unbeaten on 44.

In reply, Pakistan openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq managed to see through a brief new-ball burst from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, before Australia switched to spin in just the fifth over. The move worked instantly as Nathan Lyon dismissed Imam for the second time in the Test, this time leg-before with one that straightened through with the angle.

Lyon and Mitchell Swepson generated turn and extra bounce for the next 14 overs, with occasional ones keeping low. However, Shafique and Azhar Ali remained solid as Pakistan stood at 18/1 from 21 overs at lunch.

Australia had a lucky break immediately in the afternoon session, with Azhar being adjudged leg-before to a Cameron Green delivery that kept low from back of a length. Pakistan’s No.3 contemplated on a review but went against it, perhaps due to one used up by Imam already. Much to his disappointment, replays indicated the ball had gently rubbed his gloves before striking the thigh.

The visitors could’ve got another within 30 minutes, had Steve Smith not spilled a relatively straightforward chance at first slip off a Pat Cummins delivery to give Shafique a reprieve. The opener, 20 at that point, escaped from being runout for the second time in the game when on 33, as Green missed a direct hit at the non-striker's end from mid-on after the former scampered for a misjudged single.

At the other end, it was all about Babar Azam, who raced to 47 without much fuss by tea, striking seven fours. Cummins was pulled twice over mid-wicket for four, while Lyon and Swepson were punished square of the wicket for missing their lengths. Pakistan scored 86 from 27 overs in the session and were 104/2.

A push to cover off Lyon in the second over post-tea got Babar his 20th Test fifty. Shafique followed the suit not long after with a late cut towards the third man region.

Australia had Starc bowling in short bursts, perhaps to extract some reverse swing, while Swepson operated from round the wicket to try and sneak through the batters’ defense from outside the leg stump. None could succeed, as the partnership flourished past 150.

Babar kept the scoreboard ticking, with customary crisply timed strokes in between. And a top-edged sweep off Mitchell Swepson late in the day got him to the three-figure milestone, his first in Tests since February 2020.

The pair added another 88 in the final session, with the skipper and Shafique returning unbeaten at 102 and 71 respectively at stumps.

The longest Pakistan have ever batted in the fourth innings of a Test was 145 overs against the same opponents in Brisbane in 2016, when they fell short by 39 runs in a 490-run chase. Shafique and Babar are progressing well to better that effort, and perhaps even alter the result. To achieve that, they’ll have to extend their brilliance on day five, and hope for enough support from the rest of the line-up.

As for Australia, they might just be one breakthrough away, given the quality of their attack and a challenging fifth-day surface.

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2535239
 
Pakistan will only go for the target if the RRR is below 6 RPO and Pakistan still have 8 wickets in hand with 20-30 overs left. anything else, they will play for the draw IF they survive.
 
It's a game of probabilities. And as we all see odds don't look in our favor.

IF we get into a defeatist mindset and attempt to draw the game by the Misbahism's approach of getting into a tuk tuk mode and create a self impose pressure, then our chances of losing are A LOT MORE HIGHER well before tea. I say 99.9999%.

You cannot save this game by tuk tuk method.


However, if we show some spine and brave up a little and play with a controlled aggression, and keep hitting it when there is an opportunity and keep rotating the strike without taking any pressure? then we have a better chance to stretch the defeat and perhaps also a very faint ray of hope to even win the game.

"If we are to lose, then why not die fighting?"
, should be the philosophy.

But knowing Pakistan cricket, I am 99.99% sure that we will take the route of drawing the game by following the block block, block and tuk tuk methodology. Which will become a matter of only one wicket.
Soon the first wicket falls on day five, the land slide will trigger.

I think each batter should follow thier own way of batting Babar should continue to play controlled aggression Abdullah and fawad should bat how they would normally.
 
why would they? are next 3 series are in asia, ideal time to blood new players.

the pressure of batting at no.3 is not easy.. Dont wanna debut them there, the fans who are biting the back of Babar Azam when he has not scored a 100 for a long time and opening no. of threads to sack him from captaincy... Imagine what would happen to Saud and Ghulam if they fail at no.3 or 4

Safe bet for them is to bat at 5 and 6 only
 
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Why am I starting to get Lagaan day 3 vibes now? Is Babar going to play an Amir Khan knock tomorrow?
 
Will Pak go for the win?

If they can score 80 each in first two sessions for 1-2 wicket,150 in last session is possible :)

Nicely set up

I would take a draw but obviously a win in this game means winning the series.
 
Those thinking we'll chase this need to realise the RR throughout the game.

In fact I can see Pakistan losing an early wicket or two before being on the backfoot and looking for a draw.

Or it could just be Australia try the 'negative' line and stop whatever hopes Pakistan have of doing anything special, and thus baking-in the mindset of the batsmen.
 
I would take a draw first priority is to not loose a wicket in the first session.If they do loose a wicket that would mean Lyon will be bowling in to the turning side to the left hander.
 
Problem with Babar has always been his inability to restart the innings after doing well the day before.

He's gotten out early a few times and he needs to stem that tide tomorrow.
This. Agreed completely. Babar getting out early tomorrow is key. If he survives and gets in the zone we will go a long way in saving the match.
 
The worst thing is losing early wickets. That will put Pakistan in a defensive shell and allow Australia to attack like Hungry Hyennnas.
 
Starc's reverse swing is predictable i.e. he only reverses the ball into the left hander or away from the right hander, he doesn't bring the ball back.

Cummins on the other hand reverses the ball in both directions therefore he will be the bigger threat.
 
I think each batter should follow thier own way of batting Babar should continue to play controlled aggression Abdullah and fawad should bat how they would normally.

+1


No need to think about win or draw. Just bat 10 overs at a time and bat as you normally bat. If you play strokes then do it rather than blocking. Just need to play your normal game.

500+ chase does not happen and Aus is very much on top here. If in the last session with the reasonable required rate with plenty of wickets, only then think about chasing. Till then just bat normally.

Even if you get bowled out don't get bowled out quickly. Let Aus pacers bowl plenty of overs. It will help in the next test.
 
Abdullah Shafique:

“The batting remained satisfactory in the last two sessions. We will try to play according to the situation and to keep the momentum in our favour,”

“The team will surely go for victory if the situation is suitable"

“I think Babar Azam is a world-class batter and I always try to get help from him"ity.

“Team performance is before my personal achievement. Our focus tomorrow will be to do what is best for our team, and, I will try my best to win this game for them"

“The Australian bowlers were taking advantage of the rough areas. Their strategy seemed to trap us on the leg side"
 
Just brilliant from Pakistan. I just wanted this fightback spirit, metal strength mentally from them which were missing totally. Another important thing is the captain led from the front. It increases the confidence of the team hugely.
 
pak wont get the draw and will be all out for 250

nevermind chasing the total
haha

watching the morning collapse
 
People dreaming of a win need to realize that’s just dumb talk. A draw here would feel like a huge win and will mentally disintegrate Australia for Lahore.

Australia is well on top here. One wicket and new batsmen coming in will find it difficult on this pitch. There’s so much uneven bounce.
 
Just to make 300 posts:) I think couple of wickets and Australia has great chance to wrap it up. From pak team whenever we expect something they always surprise us. First inning wasn't expecting 148 and got surprise , same thing happening in second inning where I thought they will bundled out easily. Let's see how it goes...
 
At least they scored some runs but the wicket isn’t a greentop or a turner it’s a decent batting wicket.

Babar has an issue of getting out early after making a hundred if that happens then expect more wickets to fall and the tail to try and hang on after lunch a defeat here is not good the pitch and home conditions a loss here is a bad result.
 
Captain Babar Azam's first Test hundred in two years and Abdullah Shafique's 71 led Pakistan's resistance after Australia set up a huge target of 506 on day four Tuesday of the second Test.

Babar was unbeaten on 102 off 198 balls and opening batter Shafique followed his maiden Test hundred in the drawn first test with an undefeated 71 off 226 balls to take Pakistan to 192-2 at stumps.

Pakistan still needs an improbable 314 more runs to achieve a world record run chase on the last day or survive the remaining 90 overs to deny Australia taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Babar and Shafique defied Australia's reverse swing and Nathan Lyon's spin on a wearing pitch for well over four hours and raised a 171-run stand in almost two sessions.

Babar, who made his last Test century in February 2020 against Bangladesh, raised his sixth Test hundred when he top-edged a sweep for two runs late in the last session. It took him just over four hours off 180 balls with 12 fours.

“We have good momentum, but there are already rough patches on the wicket and it will be a big challenge for us tomorrow,” Shafique said.

Babar and Shafique joined in the second over after lunch when Azhar Ali's labors for more than an hour to score 6 were undone by an lbw from Cameron Green. Video showed a spike coming off the gloves before it hit Azhar on the body, but he chose not to review.

Pakistan could have been 38-3 but Steve Smith spilled a straightforward catch in the slips when Shafique was on 20. It was Smith's third dropped catch in the Test. Shafique also got a life on 33 when he was well short of his crease but Green missed the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Babar hit Pakistan's first boundary of the innings in the 26th over by cutting Mitchell Swepson to the point boundary and then grew in confidence against the pace of Mitchell Starc, who was used in short spells.

Shafique also opened up by pulling Pat Cummins to the midwicket boundary and lofting Lyon over long on for a six. Both batters carried Pakistan home without further damage, including the last overs with the new ball.

Pakistan's highest successful chase in test matches is 382-3 in 2015 when it beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Pallekele.

“We are still in a position to win the Test match," Australia batting coach Michael Di Venuto said.

“Yesterday, we got reverse swing going with the hard ball, but today (Babar and Shafique) got through that period and once the ball got softened they played very well." Earlier, Australia extended its lead to 505 when Cummins declared the second innings at 97-2 after Marnus Labuschagne, on 44, played Shaheen Afridi back onto his stumps off a mistimed pull shot.

Afridi and Hasan Ali didn't allow first innings century-maker Usman Khawaja, 44 not out, and Labuschagne to score quickly in the half hour after Australia resumed on 81-1. The declaration came earlier than expected.

It was only the second time Australia declared both innings in a Test in Asia; the other was in 1986 against India at Chennai.

It gave Australia almost two full days and a minimum of 172 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series at the fortress of Pakistan -- National Stadium -- where the home team has lost just two out of 44 Test matches.

Those losses were against South Africa in 2008, and England in 2000.

Australia routed Pakistan for 148 in the first innings on day three in just under 4 1/2 hours after it declared its first innings at 556-9 by keeping Pakistan on the field under hot conditions for more than two days.

The Hindu
 
Brilliant fightback by Pakistan today after the disasters of earlier in the match.

Now make it count, bat on and on and ensure the draw.
 
People dreaming of a win need to realize that’s just dumb talk. A draw here would feel like a huge win and will mentally disintegrate Australia for Lahore.

Australia is well on top here. One wicket and new batsmen coming in will find it difficult on this pitch. There’s so much uneven bounce.
Even a draw seems impossible to me. One wicket early morning and things will go in favor of Aussies. Babar and Abdullah should bat till tea to make draw possible. Yes, till tea.
 
Morning session with the new ball slips in place I think they need to leave plenty and get the eye set. Don, t go fishing for the ball.. LEAVE....

Their bowlers will tire out and that is when you can start building your innings.

1st 15 overs should be to get your eye in.. Leave the ball alone. Keep wickets in hand.. Punish bad balls obviously. Tire the bowlers. Make them ball straight..
 
Highlights

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Australia are still huge favorites for a Day 5 victory.

70% for their victory and 30% for a Draw.

Nonetheless, a great comeback by Babar and Shafiq, need to stay at the crease and bat big.
 
+1


No need to think about win or draw. Just bat 10 overs at a time and bat as you normally bat. If you play strokes then do it rather than blocking. Just need to play your normal game.

500+ chase does not happen and Aus is very much on top here. If in the last session with the reasonable required rate with plenty of wickets, only then think about chasing. Till then just bat normally.

Even if you get bowled out don't get bowled out quickly. Let Aus pacers bowl plenty of overs. It will help in the next test.

Definitely agree just continue batting how they batted in the last session.
 
Just take 10 overs at a time ; if we get through lunch with 250 score with only 2 down , we can try to accelerate post tea

Just stay grounded guys!
you need to only negotiate 10-20 overs lethal overs from Starc / Cummins thats it. And be sensible for other 70 overs
 
Brilliant fightback by Pakistan today after the disasters of earlier in the match.

Now make it count, bat on and on and ensure the draw.


We can win!

Just 10-20 overs from Starc/Cummins that needs to be taken care
 
Waqar Younis in yesterday interview was saying Pakistan can just try to not lose badly
How negative mindset this guy has , pathetic
 
Babar has a habit of getting out early in the morning. This time he needs to survive in the first session.
 
Waqar Younis in yesterday interview was saying Pakistan can just try to not lose badly
How negative mindset this guy has , pathetic

True. He was also rambling on about how he's never seen 500 runs chased down it two days in his entire life and that Pak has no chance at victory.
 
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