Australia dudded by 'farcical' rule as Pakistan survive in Test epic

Australia were left to rue a number of costly missed chances and a 'farcical' DRS rule as Pakistan held on for a thrilling draw in the second Test in Karachi on Wednesday.

Babar Azam's batting brilliance, video review vagaries and some fielding flops thwarted the Aussies as Mohammad Rizwan's late century helped Pakistan hold on for a draw.

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Nathan Lyon took three wickets in the last 13 overs, but the Australians fell three wickets short of their first-ever Test triumph in Karachi.

Chasing 506 runs for victory, Babar made a heroic 196 and Rizwan a superb 104 not out as Pakistan finished on 7-443.

The Australians missed a number of chances to dismiss Babar and Rizwan, with Usman Khawaja grassing a simple chance off Rizwan late in the day.

However the tourists believed he should have been out much earlier in the day when he got the benefit of the doubt due to a 'farcical' DRS rule.

The technology showed the ball was hitting the stumps after the Aussies appealed for lbw off the bowling of Mitchell Swepson.

The ball was also pitching and hit Rizwan in-line with the stumps, which would normally produce three red lights and have the on-field decision overturned.

But the technology deemed that because Rizwan had advanced to more than three metres from the stumps it couldn't accurately predict the ball's path and the decision stayed at 'umpire's call'.

The Aussies couldn't believe their luck after Babar also survived a perilously close lbw review just a a few balls earlier.

Fans and commentators immediately called for the 'over three metre' rule to be scrapped.

Pakistan hold on for extraordinary Test draw

The series remains 0-0 ahead of the third and final Test in Lahore starting on Monday.

Babar blunted Australia's bowlers in a 425-ball epic, posting the highest-ever score by a captain in the fourth innings of a Test.

But the skipper's gallant resistance ended when dismissed by Lyon with 12.2 overs remaining.

Lyon removed Faheem Ashraf for a golden duck next ball to revive Australian hopes of a last-gasp win.

Lyon's hat-trick ball was defended by Sajid Khan, but the rapid strikes left Australia needing four more wickets in a dozen overs with the third new ball.

With 49 balls remaining, Lyon snared another wicket when Sajid was caught at slip.

But with 19 balls left, Khawaja dropped a dolly of a catch at cover to gift Rizwan a lifeline.

And with eight balls remaining, a diving Rizwan on 99 just returned to his crease after advancing to Lyon, who threw down the stumps.

Rizwan registered his ton from the next ball and then negotiated four balls off the last over before Australian captain Pat Cummins called a halt with victory impossible.

with AAP

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