The first Test between Pakistan and Australia is meandering towards a high-scoring draw with batters dominating the match. Even though Pakistan reduced Australia to 449/7 at Stumps on Day 4, a draw seems inevitable. The first session of the day saw no play due to wet outfield, hence only 178 runs were scored by Australia in the rest two sessions. They still trail Pakistan by 27 runs. Marnus Labuschagne scored 90 and Steve Smith scored 78 for Australia, while Nauman Ali was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/107.
Follow Day 4 highlights of PAK Vs AUS first Test.
06:26 PM IST: Stumps
That's stumps on Day 4. Bad light once again forced the umpires to take the decision.
Mitchell Starc walks back on 12 not out, while Pat Cummins is unbeaten on 4.
AUS 449/7 (137)
06:14 PM IST: Wicket
That's a peach of a delivery from Naseem Shah as he cleans up Alex Carey (19). It a fuller length delivery that was angling in but shaped out of line at the last moment to rattle the off stump of Carey.
AUS 444/7 (135.5)
06:12 PM IST: Injury Scare
Mohammad Rizwan has dealt with another blow in his right hand. He is in pain, but continues wicketkeeping.
AUS 442/6 (135.3)
06:10 PM IST: 5 Over Left
Just 5 overs left in the game. Light is a bit dim and umpires had a quick chat after the 135th over and the game continues.
Australia trail by 39 runs.
AUS 437/6 (135)
05:45 PM IST: Pakistan Lose Review
That was not a good review from Pakistan as Shaheen Afridi fired that on the legs of Starc from over the wicket with the ball going away. After thinking for a long time, Babar Azam eventually decided to go upstairs and the ball was found to be missing leg stump.
AUS 430/6 (130.1)
05:41 PM IST: Australia Trail By 46 Runs
Australia have cut Pakistan's lead to 46 runs now. Alex Carey (16*) is batting at one end while new batter Mitchell Starc is 2 not out.
AUS 430/6 (130)
05:23 PM IST: BIG Wicket
Steve Smith walks back to pavilion. Pakistan are making the match interesting as Nauman Ali takes his fourth wicket. He pitched down the leg side to Smith who failed to play a sweep but edged it to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan. Aussies still trail by 54 runs.
AUS 422/6 (124.5)
05:03 PM IST: Wicket
Australia are 5 down now as Cameron Green gets out in the most embarrassing manner. He got a ball down the leg side from Nauman Ali and could have hit it for a boundary, but he instead handed a catch to Iftikhar Ahmed at short fine leg.
Green departs on 48.
AUS 407/5 (120.4)
04:46 PM IST: Steady Overs
18 runs have come off the last five overs. Australia trail Pakistan by 79 runs. 25 overs left for the day. Notably, the 115th over was bowled by Imam-ul-Haq, who bowled for the first time in international cricket.
Watch the moment here:
AUS 397/4 (115)
04:24 PM IST: Confident Australia
11 runs came off the last over bowled by Nauman Ali as Cameron Green hit two fours in the over. The partnership between Steve Smith (63*) and Green (31*) is now of 53 runs.
AUS 379/4 (110)
04:10 PM IST: Maiden Over
No run came off the over but Smith looked solid. He is playing his shots and is looking extremely positive.
AUS 364/4 (107)
04:07 PM IST: Third Session
The third and final session of the day starts. Shaheen Afridi will bowl to Steve Smith.
03:47 PM IST: Tea Break
The second session ends here. 93 runs came in it while Australia also lost two wickets in the process. Marnus Labuischagne missed century by 10 runs while Travis Head got out cheaply. Steve Smith still holds one end tight and Cameron Green accompanies him from the other end.
AUS 364/4 (106)
03:31 PM IST: Australia In Control
After the two quick blows, Australia look in control now. The duo of Steve Smith and Cameron Green have added 34 unbeaten runs for the fifth wicket.
AUS 360/4 (101)
03:10 PM IST: Fifty For Smith
Steve Smith has scored his 34th Test fifty. The innings is laced with 6 fours. He has looked solid so far and would look to continue for long as Australia still trail Pakistan by 135 runs.
AUS 341/4 (95)
02:37 PM IST: Wicket! Head is Out
Nauman Ali gets Travis Head, caught behind, for 8 off 7 as Pakistan take two quick wickets. Australia trail by 150 runs.
Watch the wicket here:
AUS 326/4 (87.4)
Drinks
02:18 PM IST: Out! Labuschagne Gone
Here is the breakthrough for Pakistan. Shaeen Shah Afridi produces an edge off Marnus Labuschagne, who walks off after scoring a handsome 90.
It was a tad fuller but not at driving length, however, Labuschagne went for the drive and paid the price. He edged the ball and Abdullah Shafique took a brilliant catch at slip.
Watch the dismissal here:
AUS 311/3 (85)
01:52 PM IST: Pakistan Take New Ball
17 runs have come off the first 7 overs bowled today. The second new ball is available now and Pakistan take it. Shaheen Afridi will bowl the first over.
Time for some action.
AUS 288/2 (80)
01:34 PM IST: It's Game Time
The Day 4 play at Rawalpindi finally kicks off.
Nauman Ali bowled the first over, one run came off it.
AUS 272/2 (74)
01:02 PM IST: Play Starts In Half An Hour
Here is the good news for everyone. The game on Day 4 will start at 01:30 PM IST. A total of 67 overs will be bowled on the day. The teams can play till 6:15 PM IST if weather permits.
12:20 PM IST: Lunch Break
It's official. The umpires have taken the Lunch break. No play was possible in the first session due to the wet outfield.
AUS 271/2 (73)
11:30 AM IST: Another Inspection After Half An Hour
The latest update is that the umpires will inspect the conditions again at 12:00 PM IST.
11:18 AM IST: Listen To Usman Khawaja
The Pakistan-born Australian cricketer goes down the memory lane. Listen to him.
10:42 AM IST: Have A Look At Conditions
10:14 AM IST: Umpires To Inspect Conditions
Despite the best of efforts from the groundsmen to dry the outfield, the match today is expected to start at least an hour late to its scheduled time that is 10:30 AM IST. However, at the same time the umpires will inspect the conditions and give an official start time.
09:51 AM IST: Start Delayed
Notably, the match today will start with a slight delay as it rained last night and outfield is wet.
09:32 AM IST: Wecome Guys
Hello and welcome to the Day 4 live blog of ongoing Pakistan Vs Australia first Test match at Rawalpindi.
Day 4 Preview
Australia are in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, and many have predicted it to be a tough tour. But Pat Cummins & Co, despite the recent spate of heart-breaking news, are holding their ground.
Playing a Test match in Pakistan is never easy, but the Aussies have shown no signs of nerves. Led by Islamabad-born batter Usman Khawaja, who missed a deserved century by just three runs, Australia were 271/2 at the close of play on Day 3, in reply to Pakistan's 476/4d.
The play on the so-called moving day at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium Sunday continued as expected with the visiting batters having their say on a placid pitch. The top three batters have hit fifties, and on the penultimate day, Australia will hope for Marnus Labuschagne (69 not out) and Steven Smith (24 not out) to post big scores and effectively kill Pakistan's chance. They are already on an unbeaten stand of 68 runs for the third wicket.
For Pakistan, it will be another testing day under the Rawalpindi sky. With spinners uncharacteristically struggling, Babar Azam will rely heavily on prodigious pacer Shaheen Afridi to produce the goods.
