Khawaja falls for 160 as Australia reach 407-7 against Pakistan in second Test
- 13 Mar 2022
Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja’s marathon knock finally came to an end as Australia eyed a big score on a slow wicket in the second Test against Pakistan on Sunday.
Khawaja’s 160 in nine hours and 12 minutes ended in the second session on Day 2 when he was clean bowled by off-spinner Sajid Khan (2-110) before Australia reached 407-7 at tea.
Resuming on an overnight 127, Khawaja defied Pakistan pace and spin before Sajid’s ball drifted away enough and hit the top of the off stump as the left-hander went onto the back foot to play a defensive shot but missed the line of the ball.
Sajid picked up both his wickets in the most productive session for Pakistan with left-arm spinner Nauman Ali (1-91) also clean bowling Cameroon Green (28) in the last over before the break to get his first wicket.
Sajid earlier had Travis Head (23) lbw off a fuller delivery that didn’t spin enough as the batsman tried to play across the line and was struck low on the front pad.
Alex Carey was not out on 26 with Mitchell Starc not out on 1.
Khawaja raised his bat to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd, who chanted "Khawaja, Khawaja” as he left the field after his century in the city that was once his family home.
Khawaja scored just two more boundaries on Sunday to add to his 13 on day one, but tired the Pakistan bowlers through his sedate knock that came off 329 deliveries.
Earlier, Khawaja added 28 to his overnight score in the first session as Australia added a further 81 for the loss of only nightwatchman Nathan Lyon’s (38) wicket.
Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi (0-68) and Hasan Ali (1-56) couldn’t get any lateral movement with the second new ball that was only 10 overs old and spinners Sajid and Nauman Ali also couldn’t get the better of the patient Khawaja.
Lyon defied Pakistan for an hour and 15 minutes but Pakistan missed its chances to break the stand. The home team called appealed against Lyon in the day’s third over bowled by Hasan Ali but the television replays suggested the ball could have missed the leg stump.
Faheem Ashraf (2-55) then dropped a one-handed catch off his own bowling when Lyon had reached 31 before the right-arm seamer finally broke the partnership when he knocked back Lyon’s middle stump.
Khawaja raised his 150 off 322 balls with a single behind square leg off Hasan as the Pakistan bowlers struggled to challenge him.
Australia’s first Test in Pakistan since 1998 ended in a draw in Rawalpindi where the pitch was rated as below average by the ICC.
Associated Press
