Khawaja, Paine and Lyon earn Australia memorable draw in dramatic Dubai Test

Dubai - Khawaja became only the fifth Australian to score a fourth innings hundred in Asia.

Pakistan-born Usman Khawaja's epic century - his first in Asia - and heroic efforts from captain Tim Paine and number 10 Nathan Lyon inspired Australia to stage an epic fightback and secure a dramatic draw against Pakistan in the last over of the fifth day of the first Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
Despite losing Khawaja and two more wickets in three overs, Paine and Lyon survived 12 overs to deny Pakistan a third straight victory over the Baggy Greens in the UAE since 2014.
Yasir Shah (4/114) revived Pakistan hopes in the final session with three quick wickets, but Paine (61 not out, 194 balls, 5 fours) and Lyon (5 not out, 134 balls) survived intense pressure from the Pakistani bowlers and their fielders to earn an unforgettable draw.
Chasing an improbable 462, Australia finished on 362/8.
Khawaja (141, 302 balls, 11 fours), who came into this series with a best Test score of 26 in Asia, silenced his critics with a brilliant hundred on a difficult wicket to bat against a quality bowling attack.
Despite losing two wickets after lunch, Khawaja, who became the fifth Australian to score a fourth innings hundred in Asia, defended brilliantly while never missing out on an opportunity.
Khawaja found the perfect partners in debutant Travis Head (72, 175 balls, 5 fours) and Paine.
Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez broke the 130-run partnership between Khawaja and Head when he had Head lbw in the second over after lunch.
And when Yasir Shah dismissed the other debutant, Marnus Labuschagne (13), nine overs after the fall of Head, it raised Pakistani hopes of sparking another Australian collapse.
But Khawaja and Paine remained defiant despite Pakistan bowlers' best efforts to force a result.
In the morning session, Pakistan failed to take a single wicket.
Resuming at the overnight score of 136/3, Australia reached 215/3 at lunch with Khawaja and Head, who had a first innings duck, handling the Pakistani bowlers very well. 
Khawaja and Head used soft hands against the spinners - Yasir and Bilal Asif.
While Wahab Riaz was largely ineffective, Mohammad Abbas did trouble the batsmen every now and then.
But Pakistan missed a chance to take the DRS when Yasir caught Head in front of the wicket just before the drinks break. The review showed the ball that pitched on the line would have hit the middle stump.
That was not the only error of judgement from Pakistan captain in the final day morning session.
Sarfraz Ahmed probably also missed a trick by not starting the day with his best bowler in the second innings - Abbas.
The right-arm pace bowler was brought only in the 16th over of the day, and by then, the Australian batsmen had already started to feel confident about their game.
At stumps on day four, Australia were 136/3 in 50 overs with Khawaja and Head surviving intense pressure from Pakistan bowlers after Abbas took three quick wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan declared their second innings at 181/6 in the second session of the fourth day, setting Australia a target of 462.
The second match of the two-Test series will be played in Abu Dhabi (October 16-20).
The Test series will be followed by a three-match T20I series (Abu Dhabi, October 24, and Dubai, October 26 and October 28).
Scoreboard
Pakistan first innings 482
Australia first innings 202
Pakistan second innings 181/6
Australia second innings
Aaron Finch lbw Abbas 49
Usman Khawaja lbw Yasir 141
Shaun Marsh c Sarfraz b Abbas 0
Mitchell Marsh lbw Abbas 0
Travis Head lbw Hafeez 72
Marnus Labuschagne lbw Yasir 13
Tim Paine not out 61
Mitchell Starc c Babar b Yasir 1
Peter Siddle lbw Yasir 1
Nathan Lyon not out 5
Extras: (13 b, 4 lb, 3 nb) 20
Total (for eight wickets, 139.5 overs) 362
Fall of wickets: 1/87, 2/87, 3/87, 4/219, 5/252, 6/331, 7/333, 8/333
Bowling: Abbas 27-7-56-3; Hafeez 6-0-29-1; Yasir 43.5-9-114-4; Wahab 16-3-42-0; Asif 37-8-87-0; Sohail 9-1-16-0, Asad Shafiq 1-0-1-0.