Shan Masood stars with ton on day one of four-day game against PM’s XI

JOIN OUR WHATSAPP CHANNEL

Pakistan Test tour to Australia kicked off on Wednesday in Manuka Oval, Canberra against Australia’s PM XI.

On the first day of the match Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, facing some early challenges but managing to post a respectable total on the board.

The opening session, marked by disciplined bowling from the PM XI. Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq was seen scuffling on the crease. In a particular over bowled by Jordan Buckingham, Imam not only failed to score any runs but also lost his wicket, managing only 9 runs off 24 deliveries before his dismissal.

Pakistan stood at 28/1 in 14 overs, with Abdullah Shafique contributing 15 runs and Shan Masood at 3. However, the team gradually gained momentum, reaching the 50-run mark in 18.4 overs, courtesy of 112 balls, with one extra run.

At lunch, Pakistan found themselves at 91/2 in 28 overs, with Shan holding the fort at 39, while Babar Azam contributed 2 runs. The team continued to build their innings, reaching the 100-run mark in 32.1 overs (193 balls, with 3 extras).

Shan led from the front as the Test skipper, reaching a well-deserved half-century, scoring 50 off 79 balls, including 5 boundaries and 1 six. Moreover, Babar's first boundary of the Australia tour came from a lovely square drive.

The second session displayed resilience from the Pakistani batsmen, as the team reached 130/2 in 43 overs during the drinks break, with Shan Masood at 62 and Babar Azam at 18. The innings progressed steadily, and Pakistan crossed the 150-run mark in 47.3 overs (285 balls, 3 extras).

At tea break, Pakistan stood at 181/3 in 56 overs, with Shan Masood reaching 81 and Saud Shakeel at 8.  The mark of 200 runs came for Pakistan in the 63rd over with 378 balls faced. Extras contributed five valuable runs to the team total.

The standout performance of the day belonged to Shan Masood, who showed his class with a splendid century. He reached his ton in 169 balls, hitting seven boundaries and one six. Shan's innings anchored Pakistan's innings and set a solid platform for a competitive total.

However, the momentum shifted when Saud Shakeel fell victim to a brilliant delivery by Todd Murphy, being clean bowled at 13. 

As the day progressed, the drinks break saw Pakistan at 247/4 in 74.0 overs, with Shan still standing tall at 121 runs. Sarfaraz Ahmed, the new batsman at the crease, provided valuable support, scoring 17 runs. The duo aimed to consolidate the innings further.

The last session of the day witnessed a dramatic turn as Sarfaraz, after contributing a brisk 41 off 46 balls, was dismissed by Jordan Buckingham.

The day concluded with Pakistan at 324/6 with Shan standing at 156 off 235 balls. Unfortunately, Faheem Ashraf was dismissed at the last ball of the day after scoring 17 runs. However, Pakistan displayed a balanced performance, overcoming early setbacks and setting the stage for an intriguing second day.

Pakistan will look to consolidate their position and add more to their substantial first-innings total. The team will aim to capitalize on the solid foundation laid on the first day. Meanwhile, the opposition will strive to make breakthroughs and restrict Pakistan from posting a large score.