ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s first home Test against Australia in nearly a quarter of a century headed for a tame draw with the hosts 76 without loss at lunch on the fifth and final day Tuesday.
Imam ul-Haq was unbeaten on 40 and fellow opener Abdullah Shafique on 33 after Australia were dismissed for 459 in their first innings in Rawalpindi.
Pakistan, now leading by 93, were 476-4 declared in their first innings.
Australia are on their first tour of Pakistan since 1998. But hopes of a result have been thwarted by a Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium pitch that has offered little to the bowlers since day one.
Left-arm spinner Nauman Ali bowled a nagging line and length to mop up the Australian tail early Tuesday and finish with career-best figures of 6-107 in 38.1 overs — his third five-wicket haul in eight Tests.
His effort enabled Pakistan to get the last three wickets with the addition of just 10 runs after Australia resumed on 449-7.
Ali — whose previous best of 5-35 came on his debut against South Africa in Karachi last year — dismissed Australian skipper Pat Cummins for eight and Nathan Lyon for three in quick succession.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi got rid of Mitchell Starc to finish with figures of 2-88 in 30 overs.
The second Test is in Karachi on March 12-16 and the third in Lahore on March 21-25.
