Babar Azam leads Pakistan's fightback in Karachi Test against Australia

Captain scores defiant century on fourth day and stars in unbeaten 171-run stand with Abdullah Shafique

Pakistan captain Babar Azam on his way to an unbeaten century against Australia on Day 4 of the second Test at the National Stadium in Karachi, on Tuesday, March 15, 2022. AP

Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique scored an unbeaten 71 off 226 balls. EPA

Pakistan's Babar Azam shows his bat after 50 runs during the fourth day of the second Cricket Test Match between Pakistan and Australia at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi, Pakistan, 15 March 2022. EPA / SHAHZAIB AKBER

Australia bowler Cameron Green, second right, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Azhar Ali for six. AFP

Pakistan captain Babar Azam scored 102 runs off 198 balls in his unbeaten knock that contained 12 fours. AFP

Pakistan's Azar Ali sees a shot drop short of Australian fielder at short leg. EPA

Australia's Nathan Lyon, second left, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Imam-ul-Haq for one. AP

Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique plays a shot. AFP

Australia batsman Marnus Labuschagne is clean bowled by Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi for 44. AFP

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi, centre, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne. AP

Babar Azam defied Australia's bowlers with a sparkling knock of 102 not out as Pakistan fought back on the fourth day of the second Test in Karachi on Tuesday.

Set a near-impossible target of 508, Pakistan seemed to be staring down the barrel at 21-2 in the 23rd over as the runs dried up.

However, captain Azam and opener Abdullah Shafique (71 not out from 226 balls) launched a superb counter-attack as the two added 171 from almost 60 overs and remained unbeaten at stumps to revive the hosts' hopes in a match that seemed lost when they were bowled out for 148 on the third day.

The scoring rate barely crept over two an over but the home batsmen showed tremendous application to keep Australia's quicks at bay, especially once the ball started to reverse early.

Azam endured a few nervous moments as he approached his ton in the final session. He inside edged Pat Cummins past his stumps to reach 99 and then top edged spinner Mitchell Swepson over fine leg to reach three figures. He finished the day on 102 from 198 balls.

Pakistan looked a long way from safety when opener Imam-ul-Haq was out lbw to Nathan Lyon and senior batsman Azhar Ali fell in a comical way, out lbw by Cameron Green when trying to evade a short-pitched delivery.

Azhar chose not to review as he trudged off but was left to regret it as television replays showed he had gloved the ball.

Australia could have had Shafique on 20 but the experienced Steve Smith spilt a straightforward catch in the slip off pacer Cummins, a chance that could prove very costly for the visitors.

Earlier, Australia resumed their second innings at 81-1 and batted for just 26 minutes at the start of play to add 16 runs before declaring on 97-2. The visitors scored 556-9 declared in their first innings then dismissed Pakistan for 148.

No team has ever chased more than the 418-7 that West Indies did against Australia at Antigua in 2003, while Pakistan's highest successful chase is a 377-run target against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015.