Australia vs. Pakistan: Highlights from the first test day 1: Warner scores a century to help Australia score 346 for 5 .

 

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In a thrilling display of cricket prowess, Australia and Pakistan clashed in the first Test, with the spotlight firmly on David Warner's spectacular century that propelled Australia to a formidable score of 346/5 on the opening day.

The day began with high expectations for both teams and their fans, eager to witness the battle between bat and ball. Australia won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that would prove pivotal as Warner, a seasoned opener, seized the opportunity to showcase his batting brilliance.

In the second session, Pakistan started well with both pacers troubling the batters. Shaheen Afridi drew first blood by getting rid of Usman Khawaja while Faheem Ashraf also dismissed Marnus Labuschagne cheaply. However, they allowed the hosts to build up a couple of partnerships before and after Tea. Warner smashed his 26th Test century to silence the critics while Steven Smith and Travis Head also contributed well but both will be disappointed about not converting their starts. Khurram Shahzad struggled with No Balls in both sessions but got Smith as his first Test wicket while Aamer Jamal removed Head. Warner was dropped on 104 and also survived a stumping chance. He punished the visitors even more as he scored 164 runs before falling victim to short ball tactics, eventually giving away his wicket to Aamer Jamal. Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey stood strong out in the middle till the end negotiating a few overs from the second new ball as well, and they will look to add more runs to make this already big total, even bigger.

Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (captain), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood (captain), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Aamer Jamal, Khurram Shahzad.

More importantly, they twice missed opportunities to dismiss Warner. Shahzad missed an overhead catch at mid-on after Warner completed his 26th Test hundred, and Sarfaraz Ahmed fumbled a difficult stumping chance just before Warner reached 150.

Pakistan had its most productive period in the last session when it claimed three wickets. Shahzad had Steven Smith caught behind for 31 off a delivery that shaped away, and Travis Head on 40 and Warner went while going for aggressive shots against Jamal.

They passed 50 in the 10th over and Warner raised his half-century in the 15th, from 41 balls, with a slashing boundary against Faheem Ashraf.

Warner went even further into one-day mode when he crouched and flipped a delivery from outside off stump way over the fine-leg boundary for his first six innings, following 11 boundaries.

As the day concluded, Australia found themselves in a commanding position at 346/5. The stage is set for an intriguing contest as the Test match progresses. Warner's century undoubtedly stands out as the highlight of the day.