On this day, January 22, 1990: Wasim Akram shines with the bat as he scores his first Test hundred against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. This game ended in a draw, but Wasim Akram showed an incredible all-round performance. He made 52 and 123 with the bat and took 5/100 and 1/29 with the ball. Wasim Akram won Man of the Match for his performance. This was also his first Test century and the innings of 123 runs was instrumental in rescuing Pakistan from a precarious position and steering the match towards a draw.
Pakistan were batting first and were all-out for 247. Imran Khan scored 52 runs, while Wasim Akram contributed with a fluent 52 off 68 balls. Australian bowler Carl Rackemann picked up four wickets while Greg Campell picked up three wickets.In reply, Australia scored 341 runs in their first innings and took a lead of 84 runs. Dean Jones was the standout performer scoring 116 runs. Mark Taylor also made 77 runs. Wasim Akram was terrific with the ball and picked up a five-wicket haul.
Trailing by 84 runs, Pakistan’s second innings began poorly as they were 90 for 5 and in trouble again. Wasim Akram joined Imran Khan at the crease and they put up a partnership of 191 runs. Wasim Akram’s innings of 123 runs came off 195 balls, featuring 18 boundaries and a six.
Due to that knock, they s3t a target of 304 runs, Australia began their chase confidently. Dean Jones once again anchored the innings with an unbeaten 121 runs. However, Pakistan bowlers did well to not give away runs quickly as Australia reached 233 for 6 by the end of the fifth day and the match ended in a draw.
