Babar ton lifts Pakistan
KARACHI, Pakistan - Captain Babar Azam struck an unbeaten 161 as Pakistan overcame a wobbly start to score 317-5 against New Zealand on the first day of the opening test at Karachi’s National Stadium on Monday.
Babar rode his luck in a 277ball innings which contained 15 fours and a big six to bring up his century while Agha Salman was unbeaten on three at stumps after New Zealand
SYDNEY — Super maxi Andoo Comanche overcame a challenging start in a dramatic opening to the Sydney to Hobart race to take the lead as the fleet benefits from favourable winds on Monday.
Six hours into the race Andoo Comanche was leading from LawConnect, Black Jack and Hamilton Island Wild Oats with the four super maxis all within close proximity along the south coast of New South Wales state helped along by northerly breezes.
The first retirement of the race came within two hours of the start with 40-foot two-handed boat Avalanche pulling out with a broken bowsprit reducing the fleet to 108 boats.
Several near collisions and line honors favourite Andoo Comanche and rival super maxi Hamilton Island Wild Oats making penalty turns inside the first half-hour made for a drama-filled failed to capitalise on a strong start with the ball. Babar opted to bat first and the touring side began their first test in Pakistan in 20 years by taking two quick wickets via stumpings, with Ajaz Patel removing Abdullah Shafique for seven and spin partner Michael Bracewell dismissing Shan Masood for three.
Bracewell could have had the key wicket of Babar in the 15th over, but Daryl Mitchell start to the race.
Watched by a large spectator fleet, with tens of thousands more onlookers lining the shore of the picturesque Sydney Harbour, the action unfolded quickly just moments after the starting gun had sounded.
Andoo Comanche took a penalty turn inside the first few minutes after hitting a marker buoy. The boat was later seen flying a protest flag but the crew has not provided detail of the incident.
Hamilton Island Wild Oats took their penalty turn shortly later but only after a debate between skipper Mark Richards and other senior crew members for a reason that was not immediately clear.
Despite the early drama on Monday, race organisers reported a clean start across all four lines of boats, which took place in warm sunshine after heavy early morning fog had hung over the dropped a simple chance at first slip, though the bowler responded by having Imam-ulHaq caught for 24 at mid-off three deliveries later.
Pakistan recovered from the early blows as Babar reached his half-century, but New Zealand skipper Tim Southee reduced them to 110-4 when Saud Shakeel (22) edged one to Henry Nicholls at gully shortly before lunch.
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Weather forecasts indicate northeasterly winds for the early part of the race, providing the yachts with a comfortable voyage downwind off the states of New South Wales and Victoria. The faster yachts are likely to see that weather through to the finish line, but the rest of the fleet may have to contend with strong winds after the second day of racing. The 628 nautical-mile race (1,170 kilometers, or about 720 miles) sails from Sydney down the south coast of New South Wales state and across Bass Strait to Hobart, the capital of the island state of Tasmania.
Black Jack, skippered by Mark Bradford, won last year, arriving at Constitution Dock in Hobart after two days, 12 hours, 37 minutes. Of the 88 boats that left Sydney, 36 were forced to retire due to dangerous waves and weather conditions. ■