Honours even after 12-wicket day in Abu Dhabi

VIEW MATCH CENTRE

The Lyon-Marnus Labuschagne pair shared seven wickets between them, providing Australia the edge over the hosts by bowling them out for 282. This was despite contrasting 94s from Fakhar Zaman and Sarfraz Ahmed.

In reply, Abbas, the right-arm fast bowler, reduced Australia to 20/2 at stumps, by sending opener Usman Khawaja (3) and nightwatchman Peter Siddle (4) back to the pavilion. Australia are trailing by 262 runs, with Aaron Finch unbeaten on 13.

Earlier, Pakistan named two changes to their side, bringing in debutants Zaman and left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza in place of injured opener Imam-ul-Haq and Wahab Riaz respectively. Opting to bat, they were off to a shaky start as Mitchell Starc sent back Mohammad Hafeez for four on the last ball of the third over.

Hafeez flicked a full ball towards Labuschagne at short leg, who took a excellent reflex catch. At first, the fielder tried to catch the ball in his hands, juggled it, caught it between his thighs before finally, somehow, holding on.

Zaman, the debutant, felt the pressure from the start but denied Australia's pace attack well. After settling in, he chipped in with a couple of boundaries, but as the wickets kept on falling at the other end, he became more cautious in his choice of stroke-play.

The introduction of Nathan Lyon asserted Australia's dominance over Pakistan. He made best use of the available turn and picked up four wickets in six balls without conceding a run. From being 57/1 at one stage, the home side slipped to 57/5.

Lyon first had Azhar Ali out for 15, and in the same over got Haris Sohail for a first-ball duck. He missed the hat-trick but had a third wicket in four balls as a sharp off-break saw Asad Shafiq hitting the ball straight into the hands of the short leg fielder, becoming the spinner's third victim, and two balls later, he had Babar Azam, the No.6 bowled, also for a duck.

With that wicket, Pakistan also became the first side to lose five wickets in the first session of the opening day of Test in Abu Dhabi as they went to lunch at 77/5.

Shortly after lunch, Zaman brought up his maiden Test half-century and with Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan captain, he steadied the innings as the duo dominated the second session.

Both the batsmen batted with authority and continued to score runs against Australian bowlers. They batted in contrasting fashion – while Zaman played a sedate knock, Sarfraz batted with calculated aggression.

Together, they stitched together a 147-run partnership before Australia captain Tim Paine introduced the leg-spinner Labuschagne, who enhanced his 'golden arm' credentials by trapping Zaman in front, who fell six runs short of a century on debut.

Labuschagne then provided his side with another breakthrough, dismissing Bilal Asif early for 12.

After his dismissal, Sarfraz batted with more caution. He was only six away from a century when he was caught by Siddle at mid-off to hand Labuschagne another success.

Mitchell Marsh had Yasir Shah bowled for 28, and Starc wrapped up the Pakistan innings by dismissing Mohammad Abbas with a yorker. Lyon was Australia's star bowler, finishing with figures of 4/78, while Labuschagne bagged three wickets. Starc got two wickets while Marsh returned with one to his name.

But Abbas' double strike would ensure Pakistan had something to smile about at stumps.