Australia vs Pakistan 2022, first Test live scores, updates from Rawalpindi

Australia was 7-449 at stumps on Monday, still trailing by 27 runs in its first innings.

Only 11 wickets have fallen so far in the match, leaving both teams with a near impossible task to earn a victory.

Steve Smith outlined one possible path forward for Australia after making 78 on day four.

“Hopefully, the tail can stay out there for a while,” Smith said. “And if they do, they usually score pretty quickly. If they do, there‘s a decent chance that we’d be able to set a half-decent total to potentially have a bowl at. If we get a hundred or something in front, you just never know with this game.

“We take a few early wickets, a couple of balls hit the rough, some things happen on day five. So hopefully they can spend a bit of time out there. We’ll see how we go.”

ROLLING UPDATES

10:30pm: We’ve got Usman Khawaja bowling his off-spin to end the Test match, a fitting end for his homecoming. It’s been a long Test, plenty of batting and some sublime performances, in particular from Imam-ul-Haq, but in the end this Test will be unfortunately remembered for the disappointing pitch.

At least we’ve finally had a historic first Test in Pakistan for Australia in 24 years, that can never be taken away!

9:55pm: Century! This time it’s Imam-ul-Haq to bring up his century in the second innings. It has been a wonderful Test from the opener who is playing his first match in two and a half years, finishing with centuries in both innings and barely looking like getting out at any point.

That’s some way to cement your spot back in the line-up.

9:35PM: The Aussies are having fun out on the field, appealing loudly for a catch that ballooned up to short-leg off Imam-ul-Haq. But it turns out, the Pakistani opener had got the slightest edge on the delivery. The Aussies were so confident it wasn’t out, they didn’t send it up to be reviewed!

It’s the second time Imam-ul-Haq has found himself the beneficiary of Cummins not pulling the trigger on a review.

9:20pm: Century! Abdullah Shafique has batted brilliantly on day five and brings up his century in the second over after tea. It is the opener’s first-ever century at Test level in just his third Test.

8:55PM: Tea!Poor Shafique goes into the main break stuck on 99* but it’s been much of the same for Australia. Toiling hard in the field with nothing going their way. Pakistan’s lead is 208 with ten wickets in hard with one session to go.

8:25pm: Pakistan have passed 150 with relative ease with Abdullah Shafique reaching 80 for the first time in Test cricket. Pakistan’s lead now sits over 170 and with only 20 minutes left in this session, it’s hard to see their tactics changing at any point soon. Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head are now bowling in tandem, Pat Cummins clearly hoping to rest his main bowlers.

With Australia only taking four wickets for the entire Test, it’s a huge confidence boost for Pakistan for the rest of the series.

7:45PM: Pakistan’s lead has extended to 128 at the drinks break with the host’s openers posting another century partnership. It’s the first time Pakistan has had two 100-run opening partnerships in a Test against Australia and the first time in cricket history that there have been three consecutive 100-run opening partnerships in the same match.

Translation: It’s good to bat against the new ball and the batters are loving it.

7PM: Lunch has come and gone and Pakistan are still taking their time with the bat. With their lead currently sitting at the 100 mark, it’s hard to see any declaration coming today unless the game is completely out of Australia’s hands.

6PM: Lunch! Certainly not the session the Australians would have wanted. Their only chance at a result was some quick runs but they ended up losing 3-10 to be all out for 459, 17 runs behind Pakistan. Pakistan openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique have looked near unbeatable yet again, combining for a 76-run partnership to get through to lunch unbeaten with a 93-run lead for their side.

5:40PM: Review! Not much has gone the Aussies’ way on day five and that has continued with an eternally optimistic review in Marnus Labuschagne’s first over. A ball that looked like it was clearly going down leg was sent upstairs by Pat Cummins and came back with plenty of green lights. Pakistan lead by 83 runs with just under 20 minutes to go until lunch.

5:10PM: Not much new to report with Pakistan’s openers making sure the total ticks over. They’ve made their way to 0-44 after the 10th over, a lead of 61.

4:50PM: Pakistan have made a very steady start to their innings, making their way to 0-25 in the seventh over with Imam-ul-Haq looking in solid touch after his first innings century. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have produced a bit of movement with the new ball, but after just one over it’s Nathan Lyon who looks most dangerous again with his turn and bounce.

4:06pm: Australia all out! Nathan Lyon is the final Aussie wicket to go with Australia losing all three of their wickets in the space of 20 minutes this morning. It means they’re all out for 459, Pakistan hold a lead of 17 runs. Congratulations to Nauman Ali who finished with figures of 6-107.

4:04pm: Wicket! Mitchell Starc now falls after Afridi traps him on the pads. Starc seems confident with his review, suggesting it caught an edge but unfortunately DRS disagrees. Australia with one wicket left.

3:53pm: Wicket! Aussie captain Pat Cummins has attempted to up the tempo early, only to hand his wicket to Nauman Ali. He spooned a drive straight to Imam-ul-Haq at cover to hand Ali his five-wicket haul.

3.45PM AEDT: Play is underway in Rawalpindi for the final day of the first Test between Pakistan and Australia. Australia still trail Pakistan’s first innings total with 98 overs scheduled in the day’s play.

PITCH CONDITIONS

“It’s pretty benign,” Smith said. “There’s not a great deal of pace and bounce in it for the seamers. I think the spinners have offered a little bit. When you hit the right length there’s been a little bit of natural variation and you know, when you get it out a bit wider into the rough I think there’s a little bit there as well.

“So I thought it would break up a little bit more and probably turn a bit more from the start, but it probably hasn’t done so. But yeah, pretty benign, dead wicket.”

WEATHER

A sunny day is expected in Rawalpindi, with tops of 22 degrees.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The match: Pakistan v Australia, first Test at Rawalpindi, March 4-8. First ball on March 8 (Tuesday) will be 3.45pm AEDT (9:45am local) after bad light stopped play early on day three.

There is a minimum of 98 overs, with 83 overs to be bowled before the final hour is called.

How to watch: Watch the match live on Fox Sports or stream on Kayo Sports

How to listen: SEN will be providing ball by ball for the entirety of the series.

Time difference: Pakistan is six hours behind AEDT, five and a half behind ACDT, five behind AEST and three behind AWST.