Babar defies Australia with century in face of improbable target of 506

Babar was unbeaten on 102 off 198 balls and opening batter Shafique followed his maiden Test hundred in the drawn first Test with an undefeated 71 off 226 balls to take Pakistan to 192-2 at stumps

Captain Babar Azam's first Test hundred in two years and Abdullah Shafique's 71 led Pakistan's resistance after Australia set up a huge target of 506 on day four Tuesday of the second Test.

Babar was unbeaten on 102 off 198 balls and opening batter Shafique followed his maiden Test hundred in the drawn first test with an undefeated 71 off 226 balls to take Pakistan to 192-2 at stumps.

Pakistan still needs an improbable 314 more runs to achieve a world record run chase on the last day or survive the remaining 90 overs to deny Australia taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Babar and Shafique defied Australia's reverse swing and Nathan Lyon's spin on a wearing pitch for well over four hours and raised a 171-run stand in almost two sessions.

Babar, who made his last Test century in February 2020 against Bangladesh, raised his sixth Test hundred when he top-edged a sweep for two runs late in the last session. It took him just over four hours off 180 balls with 12 fours.

“We have good momentum, but there are already rough patches on the wicket and it will be a big challenge for us tomorrow,” Shafique said.