[Watch] Shaheen Afridi engages in a fierce battle with Usman Khawaja on Day 1 of 2nd PAK vs AUS Test
Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi engaged in a fierce on-field battle with Australian batter Usman Khawaja on the first day of the second Test between the two sides at Karachi.
The Australian opener continued his decent run of form with the bat in the series by notching up a second consecutive fifty. However, Shaheen Afridi tested his temperament and technique with some brilliant pace bowling displays.
Khawaja survived the bouncer barrage of Shaheen Afridi and also did not lose his concentration due to the pacer's aggressive antics.
You can watch the battle in the video below:
Shaheen vs Khawaja 😅
#BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS @Uz_Khawaja @iShaheenAfridi https://t.co/ZyNL0b5WMc
Earlier in the day, Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. Openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja gave them a good start with an 82-run opening partnership. Faheem Ashraf gave the first breakthrough to the hosts by scalping Warner's wicket. Soon after that, Marnus Labuschagne departed via run-out.
Steve Smith then joined hands with Khawaja and stitched an 81-run unbeaten partnership to consolidate the innings at Tea on Day 1.
Babar Azam was happy with his side's performance in the first Test
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam opined that his side outplayed Australia in all departments in the first Test last week. He backed up his claims by referencing the fact that Pakistan bowlers picked up all 10 wickets, while Australia's bowlers failed in that task across both innings.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference on the eve of the second Test, Babar Azam said:
"I think the way we dominated and we also picked up their 10 wickets. We also scored hundreds with Abdullah Shafique batting maturely and Imam scoring back-to-back tons. Our senior pro Azhar Ali also batted well and we got a lot of momentum which we will take into the next Test."
At the Tea break on Day 1 of the second Test, Australia put up 172/2 on the board, with Usman Khawaja (86*) and Steve Smith (40*) at the crease.