Babar, Rizwan heroics fall short as Australia seal an innings win in the first test

Australia were made to work harder than appeared likely to wrap up an innings-and-five-run victory against Pakistan on the fourth day at the Gabba as Babar Azam scored a magnificently classy second Test hundred and Mohammad Rizwan fell five runs short of his first before the tail went down swinging.

Pakistan fell agonizingly close to making Australia bat again in the match as Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan mounted a rescue effort  but could not prevent an innings defeat at Brisbane.

Pakistan started the fourth day of the test match at 64 for 3 still needing 277 runs to overcome Australia's first innings deficit. The team was immediately in trouble as Shaan Masood and Ifitkar Ahmed got out in successive overs to leave Pakistan reeling at 94 for 5. 

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam then steadied the innings not allowing Australian bowlers any further inroads. The two confidently put together a 132 runs partnership for the sixth wicket to frustrate Australia.

Babar Azam during the course of the partnership scored his second career century in test cricket. 

The partnership was ended by Lyon who had Babar caught behind at 104.

Pakistan's fightback did not end with their T20 captain's innings as Yasir Shah and Mohammad Rizwan kept scoring runs and added 79 runs for the seventh wicket. 

The stand was broken by Hazlewood who had Rizwan caught at deep backward point. The wicket-keeper batsman fell just 5 runs short of a well deserved hundred. Yasir Shah fell soon after for 42 and Australia then wrapped up the rest of the batting with 5 runs still remaining of the first innings deficit. 

Josh Hazlewood picked up 4 crucial wickets for the hosts in the second innings whereas Mitchell Starc managed to pick up 3 scalps.

Australia, as a result, won the first of the two test matches by an innings and 5 runs. 

Pakistan, after electing to bat, scored 240 all-out on day one. Australia replied with a mammoth 580 all-out, scored across six sessions, thanks to big hundreds from David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne.

Warner’s 154 was his first since his ban, while Labuschagne’s 185 was his maiden in the format. The latter, for his resilient 279-ball stay at the crease, in which he hit 20 boundaries, was awarded player of the match.   

With the match finishing inside four days, Pakistan will go back to the drawing back to work out their strategy for the final Test at Adelaide, a day-night affair which begins on 29 November.