Aussie openers dig deep in Dubai

FIRST TEST: KHAWAJA, FINCH SURVIVE SPIN ASSAULT

Dubai

Australia’s openers survived a torrid 13over spell to finish on 30 without loss after Haris Sohail’s maiden century guided Pakistan to 482 on the second day of the first Test in Dubai yesterday.

Usman Khawaja was unbeaten on 17 and debutant Aaron Finch was 13 not out as Australia negotiated some tight spin bowling from Pakistan on a pitch which has started to show signs of turn.

Pakistan bowled four overs from leg-spinner Yasir Shah and a combined three from off-spinners Mohammad Hafeez and Bilal Asif, but both Australian openers looked assured.

Australia trail Pakistan by 452 runs with all ten wickets intact, but they have a big battle ahead of them.

A sparkling hundred from left-hander Sohail and a polished 80 from Asad Shafiq enabled Pakistan to build on an overnight score of 255/3, with nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas (1) the only wicket to fall in the morning session.

Sohail’s patient six-hour knock featured eight fours and two sixes, as he added 150 for the fifth wicket with Shafiq who was unlucky to miss out on his 10th century.

The pair frustrated the bowlers with some solid batting as Pakistan reached 329/4 at lunch, with both in sight of centuries.

But Shafiq fell to the leg-spin of Marnus Labuschagne minutes before tea as he edged a turning ball to wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the debutant’s first wicket.

Shafiq hit nine fours and a six in his 278 minutes at the crease.

Sohail did to get to three figures though, hitting a six off spinner Jon Holland before cutting him to third man for two to complete his century.

He was finally dismissed by Nathan Lyon, caught behind as he tried to cut the off-spinner, having easily surpassed his previous best of 76 made against Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi last year.

Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 72 runs, including the run outs of Babar Azam (four) and skipper Sarfraz Ahmed for 15.

Fast bowler Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers with 3/58 while Lyon finished with 2/114 from 52 overs. Holland, Labuschagne and Mitchell Starc took a wicket each. –

Picture: Getty Images TON UP. Pakistan’s Haris Sohail raises his bat after reaching his century during the second day of the first Test against Australia in Dubai yesterday.