Usman Khawaja smashed his 11th Test hundred and forged a 159-run partnership with Steve Smith to power Australia to 251 for three on the opening day of the second Test against Pakistan yesterday.
Islamabad-born Khawaja had fallen agonisingly short of a hundred in the opening Test in Rawalpindi where he top-scored for his side with 97.
The elegant left-hander made amends in Karachi where he shelved the reverse sweep and made an unbeaten 127, which included 13 fours and a six.
Smith made 72 before falling to Hasan Ali in the penultimate over of the day. Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon had yet to open his account.
Earlier, Australia got off to a strong start after Pat Cummins elected to bat at the National Stadium.
Khawaja’s opening partner David Warner survived a couple of LBW appeals and got hit on his shoulder by a short delivery from Hasan Ali.
Seamer Faheem Ashraf broke the 82-run opening stand when he had Warnercaught behind. Pakistan tasted a second success soon afterwards when Marnus Labuschagne was run out for a duck.