RAWALPINDI: The first Test of the Benaud-Qadir Trophy ended in an anticlimactic draw. Pakistan had won the toss and decided to bat first on a pitch that did not break or turn until the last ball was bowled.
Australia started off the fifth day rather dismally and lost three wickets, adding just 10 more to their overnight total of 449. Australia got bowled out for 459, conceding a lead of 17 runs to Pakistan. Imam ul Haq and Abdullah Shafique came out to bat and at one stage looked like playing to push for a result.
However, any hopes of a result quickly faded when the two went back to playing cautiously on a wicket that offered nothing to the bowlers. They put on second consecutive 100+ opening partnership in as much innings – the first time it has happened against Australia since 1971.
Both Pakistani batters scored centuries in the second innings, with Aussie bowlers failing to get a single wicket in the 77 overs they bowled. Imam was named the Player of the Match for scoring century in both innings. The Australian bowlers only managed to pick four wickets (including one run out) across both innings – something that will worry them ahead of the second Test which starts from March 12 in Karachi.
