Add Category
Australia has endured a gruelling day in the field while Pakistan's top order took charge of the first day of the first Test in Rawalpindi.
On an historic occasion, with Australia playing a Test in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, the hosts lived up to the billing to end play at 1-245.
Australia took only one wicket in the day's play, and that a gift when Abdullah Shafique threw his wicket away with a slog off Nathan Lyon's bowling just before lunch.
Aside from that, the excellent Iman-Ul-Haq (132*) and Azhar Ali (64*) were just about faultless as they piled on runs and defied Australia's desperate bowlers for the duration.
The Aussies rolled through eight bowlers, though only one could find a breakthrough. The bowling wasn't particularly bad, but lacked imagination on a flat pitch that offered little for the pace-heavy attack selected by Australia.
Imam was the hero of the day, compiling his first Test century in methodical and at times brutal fashion.
He timed his innings beautifully, and brought up his ton with a fantastic cover drive for four off Mitchell Starc's bowling.
Australia's difficult first day leaves it a long way back in the match already, needing early and rapid wickets on day two to wrestle some ascendancy back.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
By Dean Bilton
THAT'S STUMPS! Pakistan 1-245 (Imam-Ul-Haq 132*, Azhar Ali 64*)
A special day for Pakistan and for Imam-Ul-Haq, who rose to the occasion and then some to carry his bat for an unbeaten 132* after day one. His was just about the perfect innings, with its tempo shifting throughout to make sure he remained in constant control.
For Australia, it was a tough one. The bowling really wasn't that bad, but the conditions do not suit the team selected and they had little choice but to be patient in the hope of a mistake. Only Shafique made one.
It's a position of some power for Pakistan, who can come back tomorrow with the intent to take the game away from Australia. The Aussies will need quick and frequent breakthroughs in the first session to try to get back into this, but for now they'll just need a rest for those weary bodies.
Much to play for tomorrow, so please do join me then. Until then, goodnight.
By Dean Bilton
90th over - Lyon to take us to stumps
And the fielders are moving on in. One last crack at something for Australia. Azhar on strike.
Not for long, he nudges to point for one.
And another one for Imam. Three to bowl.
A good stride from Azhar and solid defence. One to come.
Defended by Azhar, and Pakistan's dream day one comes to an end.
By Dean Bilton
89th over - Starc's last over of the day
One more chance for big Mitch.
Clipped fine by Imam for one more. He's so close to carrying his bat through the day, which is a hell of a feat no matter the conditions.
Starc is giving everything to the end. He caught Azhar on the finger there I think, but he'll shake it off.
Starc bowls a loose one to end his day, and pulls up a little sore afterwards. Might have just been exhaustion talking.
Anyway, one to go.
By Dean Bilton
88th over - Lyon is looking a tad tired now
This is his 30th over of the day, crazy.
Lyon is getting through them quickly now. A single to Imam there.
PLAYED AND MISSED! Not needed from Azhar. A pointless little nibble wide of the off stump.
Another over down, two to come.
By Dean Bilton
87th over - What has Starc got left?
Some short stuff, it seems. Azhar evades smartly.
Very solid defence from Azhar, who looks like he has his sights set on day two.
Another maiden over, three to come.
By Dean Bilton
86th over - Nathan Lyon back into the attack
Let's see if this hard, new ball will spin a little more.
A little tickle there from Imam to where a leg slip would have been. There was no leg slip. One run.
One more to Azhar to the leg side and the over comes to an end. Four to bowl.
By Dean Bilton
85th over - Starc continues
Azhar on strike.
SWING AND A MISS! A waft from Azhar, and nearly a feather through to Carey. A rare false shot, but he gets away with it.
And that's a maiden. Five to come today.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
84th over - Josh Hazlewood has the ball
He's been the pick today. Can he find himself a wicket before stumps?
Azhar gets a straight one and works it to midwicket for a single.
Some swing there! Unfortunately it was past the leg stump, and Carey had to go full length to rein it in.
A single from the over. Imam has faced 261 balls now and has hardly looked threatened by any of them.
By Dean Bilton
83rd over - Here's Mitchell Starc
And the new ball has been taken. Eight overs to bowl today with it.
A bit of swing, and an inside edge from Imam into his own pad.
He's well wide of the off stump so far, and Imam is leaving those alone.
Imam eventually takes one down to third for a single.
And one more to Azhar with the final ball of the over. No threat at all from the new ball yet.
By Dean Bilton
82nd over - Green to bowl again
With the old ball, I should add.
Some good fielding in this over is denying Azhar runs and keeping him on strike. He could have had two boundaries if not for Cummins and Labuschagne's good work.
And then a scorcher of a yorker from Green, well kept out by Azhar.
Good over from Green, a maiden.
By Dean Bilton
81st over - Lyon still bowling
No new ball yet!
EDGED! FOR FOUR! Wide of Smith at slip! He was slow to move, but it was well out reach in any case. Khawaja put the chase in bit couldn't reel it in.
Five runs from the over. Hard to get a read on Australia's plan here, but perhaps it's just to get to stumps as quickly as possible.
By Dean Bilton
80th over - Cameron Green to bowl
An intermission as Imam switches his gloves up and Azhar gets some extra padding in the knowledge the quicks are coming back. New ball due after this one.
Good start from Green, angling in at Imam's pads. Surprises this is only Green's fourth over of the day.
Wide yorkers now from Green, some T20 bowling. Imam squeezes it away to the off side anyway and takes one more.
A thing of beauty from Azhar Ali there. Gorgeously taken off his pad through midwicket for three. Only Starc's good chase and slide denied him a boundary.
There's your over, and the new ball is due.
By Dean Bilton
By Dean Bilton
79th over - Maybe Lyon's last one for a while
The new ball will be available after the next over.
Two from the over, 79 bowled today.
By Dean Bilton
78th over - Smith gets another go
First challenge is landing them, and he succeeds from his first ball.
Smith is very lucky these two have taken mercy on his full tosses. Another one is bunted away to deep cover for a single.
Three more from that Smith over. Australia spinning their wheels, Pakistan completely and utterly in control.
By Dean Bilton
77th over - You can't get the ball out of Lyon's hand
Maybe the new ball arriving in four overs can achieve that.
CHANCE? Nearly! I think there was some bat from Azhar on that one, but it JUST didn't quite carry to Warner at leg slip. Nearly is as good as it has been for Australia today.
Over bowled, three from it.
By Dean Bilton
76th over - Steve Smith!
Is it too early to give Smudge a trundle?-Mike
It most certainly is not. The vice captain has the ball, lets see what Smudge has in his locker.
First three balls a little bit short, and the third is punched away through point by Ali for one.
And then the big full toss. Shades of the last ball of day five in Sydney, there.
The next one is even higher, nearly chest-height, and pulled away for one. This is not good.
Only two runs from the over though, somehow.
By Dean Bilton
75th over - Lyon over the wicket to Imam
Why not? Let's see what that does.
Only lasted three balls. Lyon back around the wicket now.
SHOT! Wonderful use of both hands and feet from Imam. He charged and somehow managed to clip a wider ball over cover for four. He was never to the pitch of that, but he's seeing it that well.
That touch of Imam class lights up the over. He's been fun to watch today.