Pakistan have made a watchful start in response to Australia’s strong first innings total in Perth in the opening Test as they went into stumps at 132/2, still trailing by 355 runs. Pakistan’s openers started off in sedate fashion in the post lunch session with both Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique seeing off the tricky period before the Tea break. Only 43 runs were scored in the first 20 overs and the batters continued in the same vein in the final session as well.

Shafique broke the shackles with a straight drive off Hazlewood and survived a review against Nathan Lyon for a caught behind. Shafique’s luck eventually ran out when he stepped down the track but only got an inside edge to the leg slip to depart for a 121-ball 42. While Imam continued to fight it out, Shan Masood gave Pakistan some much needed impetus. He stepped down the track against Lyon to power one over mid on and then took on Hazlewood for two boundaries in a single over.

Masood got away when a thick edge off Hazlewood evaded the gully fielder but Australia managed to get rid of him eventually when the left-hander edged Starc behind to depart for 30. Pakistan ensured there was no further damage done before stumps but face a tall order on the third day.

Earlier, Australia finished with a huge total of 487 after Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey to an extent ruined Pakistan’s hopes of keeping the score below 400. Having already picked five wickets on the opening day, one early wicket on the second day would have given Pakistan a chance of having a go at the lower order. However, Marsh started off in aggressive fashion on the second day to put the visitors on the backfoot.

Marsh kept dealing in boundaries and even a change to bring Faheem Ashraf into the attack didn’t pay off as both the batters combined to fetch six boundaries off 12 deliveries. The two batters guided Australia past the 400-run mark before Aamer Jamal bowled a beauty to breach Carey’s defence that ended the 90-run stand. Marsh continued with his merry ways though as the score kept climbing with the hosts managing to add 130 runs in the morning session.

Pakistan then stormed back in the post lunch session by first ruining Marsh’s hopes of scoring a century in front of the home crowd. The allrounder, batting on 90, saw his stumps shattered first ball after resumption and that was the opening the visitors needed. The lower order was packed off pretty quick with the debutant Jamal finishing with a six-wicket haul.

Brief scores:
Pakistan132/2 (Abdullah Shafique 42, Imam-ul-Haq 38; Mitchell Starc 1/24) trail Australia 487 (David Warner 164, Mitchell Marsh 90; Aamer Jamal 6/111) by 355 runs