Khawaja's ton assists Australia with finishing Day 1 on solid note

 On a sluggish first day of the season, Australia edged in front of Pakistan, going to stumps on 251 for 3, politeness Usman Khawaja's unbeaten 127 and Steve Smith's 72 in Karachi. The pitch that was relied upon to help spinners and be not normal for the one in Rawalpindi was disappointingly level and slow, and further helped by Pakistan's negative bowling strategies to transform it into a sleeper - eclipsing Khawaja's eleventh Test century.

For almost an hour prior to the second new ball was taken, Pakistan unusually changed to a negative line outside the leg stump in attempting to evaporate the runs and compelling the hitters to play shots out of their usual range of familiarity. Notwithstanding, Khawaja and Smith were content in bringing their cushions into play and allowing the drought to disappear out and tire the bowlers. The couple, who had participated in the middle toward the beginning of the day meeting, stuck around for over four hours, sewing an unbeaten 159-run association.

The justification for it being a strange strategies was on the grounds that there was some help for both the pacers as well as the spinners, even as they hadn't tracked down more than adequate achievement. Be that as it may, with Smith and Khawaja steadying Australia, with the game still in the primary day's play and rolling out the dull draw from the past experience, Pakistan fell on edge early. In the principal hour of play, the ball was zooming around a little and upset the Australian openers - Khawaja and Smith. They were beaten, edges actuated and rapped on the cushions a few times, compelling them to be focused with their methodology.

Hasan Ali wandered now and again on the cushions and Khawaja rushed to immediately jump all over on the chance and flick a couple of limits. Shaheen Afridi, then again, didn't offer those gifts. Also, when Sajid Khan was brought into the assault, he was placed on the back foot ahead of schedule with David Warner running after the track and hitting him for two sixes. Before sufficiently long, Khawaja too allotted comparative treatment.

One of the concise times of play where Pakistan made progress was the last thirty minutes before Lunch when two wickets fell one after another. Faheem Ashraf, bowling round the wicket, had Warner outside edging a conveyance that fixed marginally to the 'guardian.

Marnus Labuschagne fell before long, for a duck, while endeavoring a tight single subsequent to hitting the ball to mid off. Nonetheless, Sajid's immediate hit at the non striker's end, observed him shy of the wrinkle.

There wasn't a great deal of progress for the bowlers on the day. The second wicket of the day fell in the penultimate over. Smith's hard toil reached a conclusion when he wound up fishing at a conveyance outside off to give a getting an open door to Faheem at second slip. It was a combative catch with the TV replays unfit to give an obvious sign, yet the third umpire was persuaded with the visuals.

Nathan Lyon, advanced as nightwatchman, saw through the excess time of play securely.

Brief Scores: Australia 251/3 (Usman Khawaja 127*, Steve Smith 72; Hasan Ali 1-31, Faheem Ashraf 1-32) versus Pakistan