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Toothless Australia outplayed by Pakistan in dismal drawn first Test in Rawalpindi

Imam-Ul-Haq was named player of the match for his pair of centuries. (AP: Anjum Naveed)

Australia has been outplayed by Pakistan in the first Test in Rawalpindi, in a game that petered out to a dire draw.

The touring Australians failed to take a second-innings wicket on day five as Pakistan compiled 0-252, with Abdullah Shafique (136*) and Imam-Ul-Haq (111*) both making centuries.

Australia's bowlers were completely bereft of ideas on a pitch that remained as flat and lifeless as it was on day one.

The Aussies managed only four wickets for the whole Test, and were bowled out for 459 early on day five.

Any thoughts of aggressive declarations by either team were quickly abandoned when the Pakistan opening pair set about their second-innings pile-on, slowly and methodically racking up the runs over 77 overs.

Imam-Ul-Haq hits Nathan Lyon for six down the ground. (AP: Anjum Naveed)

Australia used nine bowlers on day five, including Usman Khawaja, as their priority became protecting their frontline bowlers ahead of the second Test, which begins on Saturday.

Imam was named player of the match for his twin tons, the first two of his Test career.

Australia will no doubt contemplate the make-up of their team ahead of the second Test, with leg-spinner Mitch Swepson among the possible inclusions.

Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.

Live updates

By Dean Bilton

Pinned

By Dean Bilton

That's it for me

What a Test, eh? One we actually probably will remember for a long time, though not for the best reasons.

The good news is the second Test is only days away, and it simply HAS to be better. So join me for day one of that one on Saturday, and we'll do it all again. Thanks for your company, goodnight.

By Dean Bilton

Imam-Ul-Haq is player of the match

Very confused as to what's going on here, they've just given out four awards after this game.

  • Nauman Ali is the bowler of the match thanks to his six wickets.
  • Marnus Labuschagne also just won the "all-rounder of the match", whatever that is.
  • And Abdullah Shafique is the "reliable batsman on the match".

Good stuff all round, the sponsors are getting their money's worth.

By Dean Bilton

IT'S A DRAW! Pakistan finish 0-252

There's no two ways to put it, that was a bad Test match. A lifeless pitch made for a lifeless Test, in which a draw was inevitable from day two. Within that there were some moments to savour for Imam-Ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Abdullah Shafique and Nauman Ali, but they have not added up to a Test win for Pakistan.

For Australia, big question marks. Taking four wickets in a whole Test, for more than 700 runs, is a big worry. Just as concerning was the inability to bat with the same ruthlessness as their opponents. The tourists have work to do and questions to answer before Saturday's second Test.

By Dean Bilton

77th over - USMAN KHAWAJA IS BOWLING

Hell yeah. It's taken until the last over of the last day, but finally we've got what we came for.

First ball is not good. Down the leg side and swept for one. That makes it 0-250, meaning this is now Pakistan's greatest ever opening stand against Australia.

Ooh, that was straight! Imam played it to midwicket for one, but still.

There's the big dank full toss, and then one more single for Imam. Not quite the excitement we had hoped for in truth.

Imam defends one more. Is that it?

THAT'S IT. IT'S OVER. A draw.

By Dean Bilton

76th over - Head to bowl what I think should be the penultimate over of the match

Think and hope.

One more for Shafique.

Over bowled, one from it.

By Dean Bilton

75th over - Labuschagne again

Imam defending away.

And then driving to long on for a single.

Ooh, a wrong'un! That was cool. Shafique drives it off the back for to long on for one.

Over bowled, two from it.

By Dean Bilton

74th over - Head still bowling

Shafique on strike.

He cuts out to the deep for two more.

And that's it for the over. We're nearly there.

By Dean Bilton

73rd over - Labuschagne to Imam

And Imam drives down the ground for one.

FOUR MORE! Shafique advances and whacks Labuschagne over cover for four, that's a wonderful shot.

FOUR MORE! Short from Marnus and pulled to the fence by Shafique. A freebie.

Now an excellent cover drive, but only for one.

Ten runs off that over.

By Dean Bilton

72nd over - Head still bowling

Shafique drives to mid off for one more.

Well cut by Imam, but there's a sweeper out there to keep it to two.

Imam down the ground for one more as the over ends.

By Dean Bilton

71st over - Labuschagne bowling

Apparently the captains can shake hands after 77 overs of this innings. Which is soon. Please make it so.

Shafique around the corner for one more.

That's it for that over.

By Dean Bilton

70th over - Head to Shafique

Cut away for one more.

Imam defends or leaves the rest of the over.

By Dean Bilton

69th over - Labuschagne again

FOUR! Rank ball from Marnus, misfielded by Starc at point. Four runs to Shafique the result.

One more to Shafique, and the over is bowled.

By Dean Bilton

68th over - Travis Head again

Flicking through the spinners at the moment.

This is absolutely dire. Imam is leaning on his bat as Head bowls deliveries that are right on the cusp of being called wides.

And that's the whole over. Hug your loved ones guys. Cherish the time you have. Don't waste it on moments like this.

By Dean Bilton

67th over - Marnus Labuschagne is back

Not silly enough. We want Ussie, Warner, Carey, anyone.

Shafique drives to long on for one.

Imam does the same.

Four singles from the over.

By Dean Bilton

I know the pitch is trash but is there any excuse for only taking 4 wickets in an entire test match?

-LW

The bowling hasn't been great, but it's hardly been horrible. My view is Pakistan's batters have just been more ruthless than Australia's. There is no reason why the Aussies couldn't have done the exact same in their innings, if not for the poles they threw away.

By Dean Bilton

66th over - Lyon time

CLOSE! Imam defends that down between his legs, and watches it roll past the leg stump.

Good fielding from Head to pick it up and throw down the stumps, but Imam was comfortably home.

Two singles off the over.

By Dean Bilton

By Dean Bilton

65th over - Head has five to come

Imam to carry on.

One more to Imam as the over ends. Now that both of these two have centuries, I'm not sure what we're playing for here.

By Dean Bilton

HUNDRED UP FOR IMAM-UL-HAQ! ONE IN EACH INNINGS!

No mucking around from Imam! He runs at Head and belts him over the top into the vacant cover region to reach his second century of the Test. If you thought the first one was a breeze, this was something else. Five days ago, he'd never scored a Test ton. Now he has two.

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