KARACHI: Australia's batters continued to dominate on Day 2 of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi, concluding with a strong total of 505/8.

Usman Khawaja continued his fine form with a tough 160, while Alex Carey hit a fluent 93 to help Australia reach 500 runs by the end of the second day of play in Karachi.

Australia got off to a good start, with Khawaja and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon putting on a 54-run fourth-wicket stand. Lyon, who was handed a reprieve on the final ball of Day 1, got off to a shaky start, escaping a tight leg-before call against Hasan Ali during the third over of the day before an inside edge sped over the stumps and towards the fine leg boundary.

During the first hour, he proceeded to annoy the hosts, sweeping Nauman Ali, while also taking on Shaheen Afridi's short-pitched stuff with bold pull strokes. Faheem Ashraf finally got the right-hander, but not before he hit five fours in a 62-ball 38.

Meanwhile, Khawaja continued his consistent presence at the other end, reaching his third 150-plus mark in Test cricket with a single to fine-leg. At 332/4, Australia was on its way to lunch.

Sajid Khan handed Pakistan an early lead in the second session as he trapped Travis Head leg-before for 23. While Sajid caused Cameron Green problems with a low and awkward bounce from his end, Shaheen bowled with terrific pace and intensity at the other end while cleverly varying his lengths.

The off-spinner finally broke through Khawaja's defense, smacking the top of off stump with one that drifted just enough to end a nearly nine-hour stand for 160. It is now the second-highest score by an Australian opener in Pakistan, beating Bob Simpson's 153 at the same location in 1964, with Mark Taylor's 334* (Peshawar, 1998) in first place.

Green and Alex Carey then batted for 15.1 overs, the former showing some determination against Nauman Ali with a six and a four before being bowled out for 28 by the same bowler. Pakistan had a relatively profitable session, with three wickets falling for 75 runs and Australia at 407/7 at the tea break.

The hosts continued to toil hard during the final session, but couldn’t quite get the desired results with another 98 runs being added.

Carey shared a half-century stand with Mitchell Starc and reached his second Test fifty, sending Australia past 450. During the final hour of play, the wicketkeeper-batter changed gears, especially against Sajid, whom he tonked for a six over cow corner while playing reverse sweeps. With two overs remaining in the day's play and a first Test ton insight, the left-hander attempted a sweep across the line against Babar Azam's off-break, only to have his stumps rattled when on 93.

Surprisingly, Australia proceeded to bat, with Starc and skipper Pat Cummins going off unbeaten on 28 and 0 at stumps, respectively.

Edited - SportsAction / Inputs - Agency