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RAWALPINDI: Australia were all out for 459 on Tuesday in their first innings against Pakistan’s 476-4 declared, as the first Test headed towards a tame draw in Rawalpindi.
Resuming at 449-7, Australia lost their remaining three wickets for the addition of just 10 runs in 3.1 overs.
Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Nauman Ali finished with career-best figures of 6-107, his third five-wicket haul in eight Tests.
It merits mention here that, at the end of the fourth day, Pakistan’s first home Test against Australia in nearly a quarter of a century looked headed for a draw despite Nauman Ali grabbing four wickets Monday as the tourists reached 449-7 on the fourth day of a rain-hit match in Rawalpindi.
When umpires called off play with three overs still to be bowled, Mitchell Starc was on 19 and skipper Pat Cummins four with Australia just 27 behind Pakistan s first innings total of 476-4 declared.
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Australia are on their first tour to Pakistan since 1998, having previously refused to visit over security fears.
But despite no rain forecast for today, the likelihood of a result in the opening Test of the three-match series looks bleak, barring a Pakistan batting collapse in the second innings on a wicket that still looks full of runs.
The pitch at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has produced 925 runs for just 13 wickets, and is unlikely to yield the spin needed for a result.
Still, Pakistan grabbed five wickets Monday, including that of top-ranked Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne (90) and veteran Steve Smith (78), with Nauman taking 4-107 in 37 precise overs.
