ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's marathon batting defense in the drawn second test match against Australia has raised the hopes of head coach Saqlain Mushtaq ahead of the series decider.
The third test starts Monday in Lahore.
“Defending over 1,000 balls was something very special,” Saqlain said Friday. “Lots of people were thinking it was impossible, but all the players and support staff in the dressing room had a firm belief that we are not going to give this game to Australia.”
Australia was clear favorite to go 1-0 up in the three-match series after it set Pakistan a huge target of 506 in a minimum 172 overs at Karachi’s National Stadium under hot conditions.
But Pakistan captain Babar Azam played an epic knock of 196 off 425 balls in more than 10 hours while Abdullah Shafique (96) and Mohammad Rizwan (104 not out) also batted for long periods to deny Australia victory. Pakistan finished at 443-7, falling short by 63 runs in what would have been a world record chase.
“It will be unfair if I single out one player who stood out,” Saqlain said. “The whole team needs to be praised for showing such a character against the world No. 1 team, here on the back of a 4-0 Ashes win at home.”
Australia had dominated for three days at Karachi with the reverse swing of Mitchell Starc. Pakistan was bowled out for 148 and conceded a massive 408-run first innings lead after the visitors had declared at 556-9.
Babar stood firm against the pace of Starc and Pat Cummins in the second innings and also kept the two spinners -- Nathan Lyon and debutant leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson -- at bay for more than five sessions of impeccable and patient batting.
Babar shared a double-century stand with Shafique and then his century partnership with Rizwan took the game deep into the last session.
Despite losing Babar with 12 overs remaining, Rizwan saw off the tricky spin of Lyon and Swepson with No. 9 batter Nauman Ali remaining unbeaten on 0 while confidently facing 18 balls. Rizwan later called Nauman’s scoreless innings as good as his century.
“It (Rizwan’s comments) sums up the feelings of the entire team,” Saqlain said. “The aim was to fight for the team.”
Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998 started off with a tame drawn first test at Rawalpindi where the Pindi Cricket Stadium was rated as “below average” by the ICC.
Saqlain said the epic draw had increased the confidence of Pakistan to surprise Australia.
“Before this series our mission was to beat Australia and win the series,” Saqlain said. “It’s not that we are just saying it, we will try our best and produce a result in our favor in Lahore.”
Epic draw raises Pakistan's hopes of series win vs Australia
https://arab.news/rhagj
Epic draw raises Pakistan's hopes of series win vs Australia
- Australia’s first tour to Pakistan since 1998 started off with a tame drawn first test at Rawalpindi
- Head coach Saqlain says the epic draw in second test at Karachi had increased the confidence of Pakistan
Mbappé equals ‘idol’ Ronaldo with his record 59th goal in a year for Real Madrid
- “It’s incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He’s) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said
BARCELONA, Spain: Kylian Mbappé scored his 59th goal for Real Madrid in 2025 on Saturday to equal the club record for the most in a year held by Cristiano Ronaldo.
The milestone was about to escape the France striker until he converted a penalty kick with four minutes left to complete a 2-0 win over 10-man Sevilla in Madrid’s final game of the year.
Mbappé matched Ronaldo’s tally from 2013 on his 27th birthday. After embracing his teammates, he marked the feat with a subdued version of Ronaldo’s trademark goal celebration — whereby the Portugal forward leaps up and thrusts his arms downwards upon landing — before blowing a kiss at the television cameras.
The former Paris Saint-Germain star, who joined Madrid in the summer of 2024, has scored 29 times for Madrid this season, including a league-leading 18.
“It’s incredible, in my first (full) year to do what Cristiano did. (He’s) my idol, the best player in the history of Real Madrid,” Mbappé said.
“My celebration is for him. I wanted to do that because he helped me adapt here and now I can help Madrid win games with my goals. I wanted to share it with him. I have a really good relationship with him, he is my friend, and I wish him and all Madrid fans a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”
Jude Bellingham scored with a header in the 38th minute and Sevilla lost defender Marcao to a second booking for rash tackles with 20 minutes left.
Sevilla coach Matías Almeyda also was expelled by the referee during the halftime break apparently for protesting.
Alonso has been under pressure for several weeks due to a run of bad results and the overall lackluster play of his star-studded side. Spanish sports media is rife with speculation the first-year coach could be replaced.
Now Madrid club president Florentino Pérez will have two weeks to ponder the team’s future before its next game against Real Betis on Jan. 4.
Alonso could have ill afforded another slip at the Santiago Bernabeu after his side lost its previous two games. But Madrid’s fans still had reason to grumble after Sevilla repeatedly created scoring chances — even after being reduced to 10 men.
Alexis Sánchez, still spry at age 37, and right back Juanlu Sánchez stood out the most for a Sevilla side that poked holes in Madrid’s defense.
Madrid needed Thibaut Courtois to deny Alexis, Isaac Romero and Alfonso González on four strikes in the second half. But Sevilla could have gone ahead if it had just showed more finishing touch early on.
The result was still in doubt until Mbappé converted his spot kick after Juanlu fouled Rodrygo in the area.
Madrid is in second place at one point behind Barcelona before the leader visits third-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
