Australia clinches innings victory over Pakistan

Australia has ambled to victory in the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba, sealing the win by an innings and five runs after tea on the fourth day.

With the result seemingly a formality upon arrival to the ground on Sunday, Pakistan mustered resistance for an impressively long time, forcing Australia to fight for every wicket before the hosts eventually tied things up in the closing stages of the fourth day.

But Babar Azam gave the tourists something to smile about with a sensational 114, as Pakistan's best batsman responded to a poor first-innings dismissal in the best way possible.

His success was nearly shared by determined wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who fell agonisingly short of a deserved century of his own, holing out for 95.

Azam and Shan Masood resumed the innings for Pakistan three wickets down and still 276 in arrears, and found the early going relatively comfortable on a pitch that was beginning to break down, but was playing only a small handful of tricks.

The first hour had nearly been negotiated successfully, but Pat Cummins put an end to a sturdy partnership, removing Shan with a searing bouncer that took the top edge of the batsman's blade as he attempted a hurried pull shot on 42. Paine took the simple catch.

It looked as if that wicket was going to bring the game to a rapid halt when Iftikhar Ahmed was sent packing after only four balls faced and with no runs scored, with Josh Hazlewood this time finding a slight edge through to the keeper.

But any thoughts of a rapid conclusion were dashed by Azam and Rizwan, who saw their side safely through to lunch and then picked up where they left off after the break.

Azam reached his century with a fine cover drive to the fence, before Rizwan brought up a 50 with a lofted sweep over fine leg for four.

For a brief while, it looked as if the partnership would carry all the way through to tea, only for Nathan Lyon to finally find a way through.

Dhaka/Mukul