Cricket-Pakistan bat on, draw looms in Rawalpindi

Left-arm spinner Nauman claimed a career-best 6-107 on a flat track where bowlers struggled for success. With a draw looming as the only possible result, Pakistan opted for some more batting on what Australia's Steve Smith termed a "pretty benign, dead wicket".

Pakistan bowled out Australia for 459 and cruised to 191 for no loss in their second innings as the opening test between the teams meandered towards a draw at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Abdullah Shafique, who missed his fifty in the first innings, was unbeaten on 99 at the tea break on the final day. Opening partner Imam-ul-Haq followed his career-best 157 in the first innings with an unbeaten 89.

The bespectacled left-hander's breezy knock included two sixes off Nathan Lyon. The hosts are 208 ahead with one session left in the first match of the three-test series that marks the beginning of Australia's first tour of Pakistan in 24 years.

After the tourists began the final day on 449-7, Pakistan took 11 deliveries to claim the last three Australian wickets. Nauman Ali dismissed Australia captain Pat Cummins for eight, and both Mitchell Starc and Lyon fell lbw as Australia finished 17 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total of 476-4 declared.

Each of their top four batsmen crossed the 50-mark but could not convert them into hundreds and the tourists lost their last six wickets for 52 runs. Left-arm spinner Nauman claimed a career-best 6-107 on a flat track where bowlers struggled for success.

With a draw looming as the only possible result, Pakistan opted for some more batting on what Australia's Steve Smith termed a "pretty benign, dead wicket". Australia captain Cummins also saw no point in straining his pace attack on the unresponsive track.

On Tuesday the pace trio of Cummins, Starc and Josh Hazlewood bowled a combined 16 overs, while Lyon alone sent down 20 overs. Cummins also got 19 overs out of part-time spinners Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Steve Smith.

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