PAKISTAN has overcome early adversity to post a punchy first innings total on day one of the New Year’s Test today. After winning the toss and electing to bat at the SCG, both of the visitors’ openers were dismissed without scoring as two of four wickets to fall in the opening session.

A fighting final wicket partnership between Aamir Jamal (82 off 97) and Mir Hamza (7* off 43) proved the longest of the inning, contributing 86 runs to the total of 313. Previously, gloveman Mohammad Rizwan (88 off 103) and Salman Ali Agha (53 off 67) resurrected the score with a fine middle order dig.

Australian captain Pat Cummins proved his side’s golden arm once again, snaring his third consecutive five-wicket haul (5-61). After fellow pacemen Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood removed either opener, Cummins trapped Babar Azam (26) in front and broke through to crack the Rizwan-Salman combination.

The latter success came after lunch, as Cummins took the ball and immediately struck with a new plan to go short. Mitch Marsh also slotted into the wickets column during the middle session, having Pakistan captain Shan Masood edge off to Steve Smith twice, with the first being a no ball.

Pakistan’s decision to bat first was somewhat justified by the seemingly placid pitch and rapid run rate (4.06), though the effort of 313 was perhaps under par in comparison to recent first inning scores at the venue. Still, it looked a far cry when the visitors fell to 2-4, 4-47, and 5-96.

Jamal’s ability to manipulate the strike and consistently clear the boundary made Australia’s short bowling tactic look stale, proving a frustrating period for the hosts who looked on track for a dominant day. In the end, a nervy final over was all Australia’s openers had to show for it.

David Warner walked out onto the SCG for potentially his final Test innings, advancing through a guard of honour and taking strike. Spinner Sajid Khan took the new ball and was slapped for four off the opening delivery, but very nearly had Warner play onto his stumps at the death.

Australia came away unscathed at 0-6 and will resume play on day two tomorrow 307 runs in arrears. The is no forecast rain for the remaining four days of action, and experts suggest the pitch may deteriorate quickly with the warmer weather – potentially making for some exciting sessions to come.

SCORECARD

TOSS: Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat.

1ST INNINGS: Pakistan 10-313 (77.1)
Mohammad Rizwan 88 (103), Aamir Jamal 82 (97), Salman Ali Agha 53 (67)
Pat Cummins 5-61 (18), Mitchell Starc 2-75 (16), Mitch Marsh 1-27 (7)

2ND INNINGS: Australia 0-6 (1)
David Warner 6* (6), Usman Khawaja 0* (0)
Sajid Khan 0-6 (1)

SESSION BREAKDOWN

1ST SESSION:
Total: Pakistan 4-75 (24)
Session winner: Australia

2ND SESSION:
Total: Pakistan 6-199 (48)
Added: 2-124 (24)
Session winner: Pakistan

3RD SESSION:
Total: Pakistan 10-313 (77.1) // Australia 0-6 (1)
Added: 4-114 (29.1) // 0-6 (1)
Session winner: Pakistan

Pakistan leads by 307 runs.