Usman Khwaja (127*) overpowered the Pakistani attack as Australia finished the day on a high with 251 runs for a loss of only three wickets.
Earlier in the day, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. Australia and Pakistan announced that they had made one and two changes respectively to their sides.
Playing XI:
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson
Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam (c), Fawad Alam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Nauman Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan
Australia gets off to a flier:
Usman Khwaja and David Warner were in no mood to waste any time as they picked apart the Pakistani bowlers from the get-go. David Warner, in particular, went absolutely bonkers while smashing the bowlers all around the park. Warner played a handy knock of 36 runs, including 3 fours and 2 sixes. The Kangaroos scored at a rate of more the 4.5 runs per over till Warner’s stay at the crease. Warner was removed by Faheem Ashraf when Australia was cruising at 82 for no loss.
Usman Khwaja and Smith steer the innings:
Marnus Labuschagne got too anxious for his first runs and made a horrible call in the middle to follow Warner without scoring nought. Khwaja then collaborated with Steven Smith to put up a handsome 159 runs stand for the 3rd wicket.
Smith reached 34th test fifty as he compiled 72 runs before getting dismissed. On the other end, Usman is churning out hundreds every other match in test cricket. He reached his 10th test hundred and remained unbeaten on 127 as the game heads into the 2nd day.
Nathan Lyon, sent in as night-watchman, is at the crease with Usman Khwaja, and the duo will open the proceedings for Australia on the 2nd day.
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