"Pakistani Bradman"- Twitterati heaps praise on Babar Azam for helping Pakistan draw the Karachi Test against Australia

Relying on exceptional batting displays by Babar Azam (196), Mohammad Rizwan (104*), and Abdullah Shafique (96), Pakistan managed to draw the second Test against Australia in Karachi on Wednesday,

Having scored 556/9 in the first innings, the visitors were clearly the favorites to win after skittling out the hosts for 148 in their first innings. The Pat Cummins-led Australian side then declared their second innings at 97-2 early on the fourth day. They set a mammoth target of 506 runs for Pakistan.

Babar Azam took on the initiative and shepherded his troops from the front under pressure in the second innings. A much-improved performance from the batting unit meant Pakistan batted out 171.4 overs over the last two days without getting all-out to draw the contest. The hosts managed to reach 443/7 before the players decided to shake hands.

Pakistan cricket fans were elated after witnessing the batting exhibition by Babar Azam and Co. in the fourth innings. They took to Twitter to heap praise on the team for the same.

Here are some of the best reactions:

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"I thought to play for as long as I could as the team needed it from me" - Babar Azam

The Pakistan captain revealed he intended to stay at the crease for as long as possible since it was the need of the hour. The 27-year-old also commended the team's fighting spirit in the fourth innings. For his exceptional knock, Babar Azam deservingly received the Player of the Match award.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Azam shed some light on the team's strategy in the fourth innings and said:

"The plan was simple that we have to bat throughout, session by session. We wanted to build partnerships and continue it. I thought to play for as long as I could as the team needed it from me. The team showed effort and it was great. We had the belief and we stuck to that. We had complete focus that we will play how many ever sessions we have to."

Babar Azam reserved special praise for Mohammad Rizwan, who remained unbeaten in the end. The Pakistan skipper said:

"The way Rizwan played in the end was outstanding as well to save the game. To be honest, we did not plan a lot about the chase, we thought that we will play positive cricket."

The three-match Test series is currently level at 0-0 after both matches have ended in draws. The third Test between Australia and Pakistan will commence on March 21 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.