PAK VS AUS - 2nd Test, Australia tour of Pakistan, 2022

It has been a Test series dominated by batters and the bowlers from both teams will be pretty exhausted having bowled so many overs. Only 20 wickets fell in the first Test, but this pitch was slightly better than the one at Rawalpindi. Just that the batters applied themselves well and batted for long hours without a lapse in concentration. Starc's spell in the first innings where he got wickets with reverse swing and Lyon's three wickets towards the end of the Test were the highlights. Barring that, nothing about the bowlers to talk about. Hopefully a better pitch at Lahore awaits us, else this Test series will only be remembered for the flat pitches used across the three Tests. That's all from this game. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye and stay safe..

Babar Azam | Player of the Match: The plan was to bat session-by-session and build partnerships. It was a team effort, as others (Shafique and Rizwan) chipped in with useful contributions too. We took the onus and the main focus was to build partnerships right throughout the day. Rizwan was outstanding as he saved the Test for us eventually. We wanted to continue to bat in the same way (after the tea break) and we tried to be positive and play our shots. The team needed this knock, so I tried to bat for as long as I could.

Pat Cummins | Australia captain: I think so, I think we had enough overs, it was a pretty good wicket even on day 4 and day 5. We created a few chances, but we failed to grab them. Mitch Swepson was fantastic on debut, his figures don't do justice to the way he bowled. Nathan was impressive towards the end, as he always does on day 5. For an Australian team to bat over two days at the start of a Test match, I don't think we've done that for a long time. Lots of positives from this match and so far in the series. The way we batted was fantastic, the way we hunted and took those wickets on day 3 with reverse swing, that was brilliant as well. And we were always ahead in the game, so really proud of the boys.

Mohammad Rizwan: It wasn't an easy task to bat for five sessions to save a Test against a team like Australia, we all know how good a bowling attack they have. We had a plan to go for the chase when I and Babar were batting, but the ball was pretty old, so it was pretty tough to score quick runs against the old ball. We had a simple plan, we needed to play session by session. Definitely there was pressure towards the closing stages, but I tried to keep my calm. What can I say, Babar is the number 1 player in the world, no doubt about that. Everyone knows it. Batting for two days to save a Test match is not that easy, that too against a quality side like Australia.

17:45 Local Time, 12:45 GMT, 18:15 IST: Phew! What a last hour! This Test sprung to life when Babar Azam was dismissed for 196 with just over 12 overs left. Lyon picked up a couple more wickets to put the cat among the pigeons but a calm Mohammad Rizwan ensured the hard work done by his skipper doesn't go to waste. The day started with Australia needing 8 wickets to take a 1-0 lead and all they could manage was five wickets. They picked one wicket apiece in the first two sessions as Babar stood tall, first he added a 200+ partnership with Shafique and that stand set up Pakistan for the rest of the day, then it was the Babar-Rizwan association that kept the Australian bowlers at bay. Cummins and Co. tried hard under testing conditions but they would look back at some of the missed chances and feel they could have done better in the field. Anyway, the series remains 0-0 and there's everything to play in the final Test. Hang around for the interviews..

Swepson to Rizwan, FOUR, the players shake hands. The Test ends in a draw. Pakistan have done it! They have pulled off a special effort here. Coming to the ball: It was a drag down from Swepson, Rizwan hangs back in the crease and whips it with a strong bottom hand into the vacant mid-wicket region, the ball races to the fence

Swepson to Rizwan, no run, flatter and close to off, Rizwan stays back in the crease and stabs it out

Swepson to Rizwan, no run, flighted on the stumps, Rizwan prods forward and keeps it out

Swepson to Rizwan, no run, drifting down leg, Rizwan sweeps it straight into leg slip's legs

Mitchell Swepson [53.0-8-152-0] is back into the attack

1 over | 3 wickets. Swepson to bowl the final over. Pakistan will be relieved that it is Rizwan on strike.

Lyon to Rizwan, 1 run, hundred for Rizwan. The crowd have gone berserk. Shafique missed out. Babar missed out on his double. But not Rizwan. He's the new poster boy in Pakistan and this is a high quality knock. Flighted delivery around off, Rizwan comes down the track and closes the bat face, the leading edge rolls to mid-off and Rizwan hurries to the other end. Raises his hands, takes his helmet and acknowledges the applause from the crowd as well as his team mates

Lyon to Rizwan, no run, uhhh! This is nerve wrecking. Rizwan comes down the track and pushes it straight back at Lyon, who has a shy at the striker's end and makes Rizwan dive back in. It is a direct hit but the full length dive has saved Rizwan

Lyon to Rizwan, FOUR, quicker and skidding on, Rizwan hangs back and punches it firmly through the vacant mid-on region. Everyone in the ground are applauding. He's onto 99 and there's a buzz around the ground

Lyon to Rizwan, no run, dragged back length, Rizwan stays in the crease and turns it into short leg

Lyon to Rizwan, FOUR, shot! That's the thing about Rizwan, he does not back away from a scoring opportunity. Lyon overcooks the flighted delivery outside off and Rizwan creams the drive into the vast open spaces on the off-side. He's onto 95

Lyon to Rizwan, no run, flatter delivery around off, Rizwan defends with a mini-stride forward

Nathan Lyon [54.0-20-103-4] is back into the attack

2 overs | 3 wickets. Change of ends for Lyon as he replaces Swepson. Rizwan has plenty of company around him..

Labuschagne to Nauman Ali, no run, that's a brave leave but a good one. Another delivery that lands in the rough but does not spin enough, Nauman Ali shoulders arms and Carey does not glove it cleanly