Australia have not won a single match since visiting Pakistan. The first two Tests were absolutely tumultuous. The lifeless draw is two Tests. Aussie captain Pat Cummins wanted to take the risk to win the last match.
That is why Aussie captain Pat Cummins announced the second innings shortly after the tea break on the fourth day. On the scoreboard then 226 runs for 3 wickets.
Pat Cummins declared the innings in the hope that Pakistan could be quickly packed in the second innings as well as in the first. They threw a target of 351 runs to win in front of Pakistan.
However, it is not a big deal whether it will be achieved by batting for victory. The two Pakistan openers, Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafiq, have a confident start and the Australian captain is worried at the end of the day.
At the end of the fourth day of the Lahore Test, Pakistan lost 63 wickets. Imam-ul-Haq was unbeaten on 42 and Abdullah Shafiq on 26. They spent 27 overs at the crease.
On the last day they will play 90 more overs. If you want to win, you have to make 26 more runs. If you can hold the wicket, even if you can’t win, it can be said that this test will also be a draw.
And the history of chasing the highest run in the fourth innings in Lahore is also against the hosts. This field has a record of chasing a maximum of 207 runs. Moreover, no team could last more than 110 overs. In that case, Pakistan will be able to survive 125-126 overs?
Australia also got a wicket in the 16th over. Umpire Ahsan Raja raised his finger when LBW made a strong appeal against Abdullah Shafiq off Nathan Lyon. But Shafiq survived with DRS.
Shafiq got life again one ball before the end of the day. Steven Smith could not catch the ball in the slip by Marnus Labushan. That’s why Australia is not at ease.
Australia started the second innings with a 123-run lead. They entered the field on the fourth day with 11 runs without wickets. Usman Khwaja celebrated his century again in his homeland. After being dismissed for 91 in the first innings, he ended that regret in the second innings.
Earlier, David Warner left with a partnership of 96 runs with Khwaja. He fell victim to Shahin Shah Afridi for 51 runs. Khazar’s partnership with Labushen (36) was 65 runs. Smith (16) could not make his innings big but made a pair of 55 runs for the third wicket.
Khwaja, who scored his 12th Test century, was unbeaten on 104 off 16 balls. This is his second century in the series and his fourth in 9 innings since returning to the field in January.