Twitter Reactions: Fifties from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne help Australia close in on Pakistan's total on a dead pitch in Rawalpindi

The Australian cricket team ended Day 4 of the 1st Test match against Pakistan with their scorecard reading 449/7. The visitors still trail the Pakistan first innings total by 27 runs. The kangaroos resumed the day at 271/2, with their two overnight batters, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne adding another 40 runs in the morning.

Pakistan struck for the first time in the day during the 85th over of the Australian innings, when Shaheen Afridi removed Marnus Labuschagne.

Travis Head’s innings lasted just 7 deliveries, and the left-hander was scalped by Nauman Ali, with Mohammad Rizwan completing the formalities behind the stumps. Cameron Green then came in and played some good shots in his 109-ball stay out in the middle, which yielded him 48 runs.

Steve Smith carves out a patient masterclass

However, one man proved to be the thorn in the flesh for the Pakistan side. Legendary batter Steve Smith carved out a masterclass and scored a patient 78 off 196 deliveries. The right-hander was patient, but when the bowlers offered a loose delivery, Smith pounced on it and took full toll. Smith’s innings was studded with 8 boundaries. Alex Carey departed at the fag end of the day, as he was cleaned up by youngster Naseem Shah.

With the ball, Nauman Ali was the pick of the bowlers. The left-arm spinner scalped 4 wickets with the red cherry in hand and leaked 107 runs in the 37 overs that he bowled in the Australian first innings. Apart from Ali, the likes of Sajid Khan, Naseem Shah, and Shaheen Afridi scalped a solitary wicket each as well. For the Aussies, Usman Khawaja had carved out a masterly 97 at the top of the order on Day 3 to set the tone with the willow in hand.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the 4th day’s play between Pakistan and Australia

Commentators talking about how successful MI and CSK has been in IPL during Pakistan vs Australia Test match.

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 7, 2022

Pakistan waited 23 years for Australia to visit, and then produced a pitch that looks like it might have stayed behind from Australia's trip 33 years ago.

— Osman Samiuddin (@OsmanSamiuddin) March 7, 2022

I find it amusing when Test matches get over inside 4 days yet teams lose WTC points for overrate. The biggest threat to test cricket is not overrate. Tests rarely go to day 5 anyway nowadays. The biggest threat to test cricket are dead pitches. Dead pitch = Dead game. #PAKvAUS

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 7, 2022

Please shake hands and agree to a draw. I know it's day four! There are no first inns points and I don't see an intent from either captain trying to make sth out of it. Seeing this pitch, I feel as I'm in the pre-2009 era when we used to have almost half the Tests drawn. #PAKvAUS

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) March 7, 2022

Plenty of great signs amongst the crowd here in Rawalpindi 🇵🇰 but this one made me smile @marnus3cricket #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/GKVjSMkC5x

— Todd Greenberg (@Todd_Greenberg) March 7, 2022

A wonderful, wonderful sight #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/iMT85K6Dk4

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 7, 2022

There is no going to be a winner in this match, this match is going to be a draw. #PAKvAUS

— Nikita Malviya🇮🇳 (@NikitaMalviya04) March 7, 2022

This Rawalpindi pitch so dead that even Sri Lanka can bat for an entire day on it.#PAKvAUS #Cricket

— Not Daniel Alexander (@_UnrealDaniel) March 7, 2022

Ball of the Day ! @iNaseemShah 💥#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/2qWdgypqCU

— Zeeshan Qayyum (@XeeshanQayyum) March 7, 2022

Pindi Crowd loves the new spinner in action.. its BABAR AZAM 🙌 #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Ix2DqxmlN7

— Hijaab ✨ (@hijaaaaab) March 7, 2022

Gutsy stuff from our boys

But should we have had a slog and declared, say 60 behind, with 45-60 mins to go and tried to blasts few out before stumps?#ArmchairExpert#HowManyTestsYouPlayedMate#PakVAus

— Adam Spencer (@adambspencer) March 7, 2022

Poor pitch no help for the bowlers especially spinners even on Day 4.#PAKvAUS

— Shafeeq (@imshafeeq27) March 7, 2022

You just can’t hit babar for a boundary… like ever #PAKvAUS

— Asma Khan (@Asmakhan245) March 7, 2022