Khawaja leads fightback as batters continue dominance

Usman Khawaja might have fallen despairingly short of a poignant and deserved 'home town hundred' in the nation of his birth, but his continued rich run of form has revived Australia's hopes in the first Test against Pakistan.

Having recently posted a photograph of himself batting on a practice pitch of the old Rawalpindi cricket ground taken almost 30 years ago before his family emigrated to Australia, Khawaja appeared destined to crown his return to the city – less than 20km from Islamabad, where he was born – with a triumphant century.

But three runs shy of what would have been his third ton in as many Tests since regaining his Australia berth two months ago, the 35-year-old attempted a reverse sweep against left-arm spinner Nauman Ali that bounced from his glove to his forearm, and into the hands of a fielder at short leg.

Initially it seemed destiny was in Khawaja's corner with veteran umpire Aleem Dar declining the Pakistan appeal for the much-needed wicket, but upon review video footage confirmed the dismissal and the Australian returned slowly to the pavilion accompanied by generous applause.

That support came despite Australia dominating day three of the match, with the score 2-203 at the time of Khawaja's removal (in reply to Pakistan's 4(dec)-476 across the first two days) which became 2-271 by day's premature end.

With just six wickets chiselled from the flat, lifeless Rawalpindi surface thus far, the series opener appears destined for a draw unless the blueprint shared by Australia number three Marnus Labuschagne after day two proves eerily true.

Labuschagne, who today posted his 13th Test half-century and was unbeaten on 69 when bad light stopped play more than an hour before the scheduled time for stumps (with Steve Smith 24no), indicated Australia had not abandoned hopes of posting a huge score and bowling out their hosts on the final day.

But with the overs lost today and his team still 205 runs shy of forcing Pakistan to bat again, that seems an increasingly unlikely scenario with six sessions remaining.

The undoubted bright spot of another meteorologically dull day in Rawalpindi was Khawaja's knock, although even his most ardent local fan would concede he should have been out well before reaching that total.

On 22, the newly installed opener flayed a languid drive at a wide, full delivery from Pakistan strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi that squirted waist-high to gully as Khawaja's left-hand came from his bat handle, but Fawad Alam shelled the straightforward chance.

And having reached 62, Khawaja was given warning of the perils associated with playing the reverse sweep when a ball from Nauman clipped his batting glove but thudded at pace into the pads of keeper Mohammad Rizwan who could hardly have been expected to snare the half-chance.

By that stage, Khawaja and Warner had surpassed 100 for the first wicket with their union ultimately yielding 156 which represents the first time Australia have posted a 150-plus opening partnership since Warner and Joe Burns put on 222 at the Gabba in the first Test of the previous series against Pakistan in 2019.

Of greater significance was the fact it's also the first opening stand of such magnitude for Australia away from home since Shane Watson and the late Phillip Hughes forged a 174-run stand in current skipper Pat Cummins' debut Test against South Africa at Wanderers a decade ago.

At the outset of their latest union, Australia's latest opening duo - who are also former junior teammates from Sydney's eastern suburbs - seemed to have undergone a radical role shift.

The traditionally more understated Khawaja was out of the starter's blocks like a sprinter and contributed 36 (from just 42 balls faced) to the pair's half-century partnership, while the usually aggressive Warner struggled to find his footwork and surety against the new ball.

Warner's sole boundary in his initial hour at the crease came via a thick outside edge that flew wide of the fine-set gully fielder from the luckless Afridi's fourth ball of the innings.

Come the day's first drinks break, Warner had hewn 10 from 37 balls and had appeared leaden-footed against the quicks and unsure of the lengths being hit by spinners Sajid Khan and Nausam when they were brought on to spell the seamers.

But having reached 11 (off 45 deliveries), the left-hander suddenly snapped into gear amid a lively exchange with 19-year-old Naseem Shah who showed he'd lost none of the spirit or confidence he'd displayed when the pair first crossed paths a couple of years ago.

That was when Naseem – then aged 16 – made his Test debut to great fanfare at the Gabba and went toe-to-toe with the veteran opener and engaged in several verbal exchanges including a confrontation prior to a drinks break before celebrating Warner's dismissal as his first Test scalp.

However, that decision was annulled when it was shown Naseem had overstepped and he finished his maiden day as a Test bowler with 0-65 while Warner remained 151 not out and counselled his rival that he "won't get a harder Test than his debut".

Not that today panned out much better for the still-young quick whose current figures show 0-54 off 13 overs.

It was hardly surprising, therefore, that when Warner got his innings going shortly after drinks today with a crunching cut forward of point followed by a back-foot punch through cover for another boundary from Naseem's next ball, the bowler also lifted his tempo.

Having pocketed his third boundary in the space of five balls when he exposed his stumps and cut Sajid to the fence, Warner found himself in Naseem's cross-hairs as Pakistan opted for a change in tactics.

With six fielders on the leg side – including two in the deep as well as a leg gully and a short square leg – it was apparent Naseem was set to unleash a short-ball barrage, with the opening blow landed to Warner's right elbow as he took ungainly evasive action.

By the time he looked up to see where the ball had landed, Warner found himself again face to face with the feisty young quick and the pair exchanged more words before the confrontation ended with the Australian sporting a wide smile.

Naseem's next delivery, also angled into the left-hander from around the wicket, caught Warner amidships but after he snuck a single and Khawaja responded to the tactic by stepping away and lifting the frustrated quick to the third man rope, the sting went out of Pakistan's strategy.

Instead, it was the off-spin of Sajid that brought the breakthrough after 40 overs when Warner once again tried to cut a ball pitched on his stumps but failed to make contact and the bowler unleashed his trademark thigh-slapping salute for which he's twice been fined in first-class ranks.

His dismissal for 68 slashes Warner's batting average against Pakistan from 108 prior to this Test to a mere 104.7.

Khawaja had cruised to 80 when his opening partner fell, and was playing with increased confidence against the spinners including sweeps – both reverse and conventional – and a lofted boundary down the ground off Sajid as the in-form opener skipped down the pitch.

However, that feeling of comfort as Pakistan struggled to keep their opponents' scoring rate below four an over, ultimately proved Khawaja's undoing.

The fact only one of the six wickets to fall across the first nine sessions on the Rawalpindi pitch has been claimed by a pace bowler – Cummins' removal of Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq for 157 – would seemingly suggest it's a surface conducive to spin.

But in truth, all four of those wickets (the fifth was Labuschagne's run out of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam yesterday) were the result of batters looking to step up the scoring rate rather than due to demons in the deck.

And it's likely the lack of bounce that became evident a few times throughout the course of today, will prove tougher to negotiate in the Test's final phases.

Given Rawalpindi was reputed to be the pitch most likely to favour seamers in this three-Test Qantas Tour, the delayed arrival of Pakistan's consultant fast bowling coach – former Australia Test speedster Shaun Tait – is unfortunate for the hosts.

Tait was supposed to be with the team throughout the series, but a personal matter forced him to change travel plans and he will arrive in Karachi (where the second Test begins next weekend) on Wednesday and complete three days of COVID-19 isolation before joining the squad.

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw

March 4-8: First Test, Rawalpindi

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports