The Pakistan cricket team, captained by Shan Masood, showcased positive intent on Wednesday, achieving a noteworthy feat of scoring over four runs per over in a Test innings.
On the first day of the Sydney Test, the team scored a total of 313 runs in 77.1 with a run rate of 4.05, making it the first instance of a Pakistani side maintaining a run rate of over four in a Test inning on Australian soil.
Wednesday's outing surpassed their prior best run rate of 3.97, achieved during the 2019 Brisbane Test.
This outstanding display of batting can be considered a testament to the team's evolving skills and strategic approach.
Another notable feat by Pakistan on day one of the Sydney Test was the remarkable partnership by the last-wicket duo, Mir Hamza and Aamir Jamal, who contributed an impressive 86 runs batting 133 balls.
This partnership was the second-best for the 10th wicket by Pakistan against Australia, following the 87-run stand by Asif Iqbal and Iqbal Qasim in 1976.
While the exact number of partnership balls between Asif Iqbal and Iqbal Qasim are unavailable, the 133-ball stand between Mir Hamza and Aamir Jamal stands out as the longest a 10th-wicket Pakistani pair has endured against Australia in matches where partnership ball data is accessible.
Poor start
Earlier, for the first time in 20 years, both of Pakistan’s openers were removed for a duck in the first innings as Abdullah Shafique and debutant Saim Ayub failed to contribute a single run.
Overall, that was the 10th incident for the Pakistan cricket team and the fourth time against Australia.
It must be noted that fighting knocks by Mohammad Rizwan (88) and Aamer Jamal helped the team score 313 runs in the first innings.
Jamal scored 82 runs in 97 balls, which included nine fours and four sixes. While Rizwan posted 88 runs off 103 deliveries, showcasing Pakistan’s positive intent as the wicketkeeper batter played with an impressive strike rate of 85.44.
All-rounder Salman Ali Agha was another crucial contributor with the bat as the right-handed batter scored 53 off 67 runs with eight fours.
Faizan Lakhani Faizan Lakhani is Deputy Editor (Sports) at Geo News.