Dubai: Pakistan’s Sarfraz Ahmad did not realise that he had hit one of the fastest centuries in his country’s history on Thursday, saying he only played his natural game.

The wicketkeeper-batsman reached three figures in just 80 balls — the fourth-fastest ton in Tests for Pakistan — on his way to a brilliant 109 as his side were bowled out for 454 on the second day of the first Test at the Dubai International Stadium here. Australia reached 113 for no loss in reply at the close.

“It is good to know that I am the fourth-fastest Test century maker [for Pakistan] but that was never on mind. I only realised after I was informed about the record. I only went out and played my natural game,” Sarfraz said.

“I succeeded in playing my natural, aggressive game. I attacked the spinners and, whenever possible, the fast bowlers. I backed my instinct and I succeeded.

“It is the best innings of my career so far, but I would be happier if this century helps Pakistan.

“My success is due to help from the team management, like [coach] Waqar Younis, [manager] Moen Khan and [spin coach] Mushtaq Ahmad. They have been a great help not only to me but also to the other young members in the team.”

Pakistan noticeably picked up the run rate yesterday and Sarfraz explained his tactics.

“Waqar asked me to go out and play my natural game, but told me to play [Mitchell] Johnson rather carefully. He said if you can read him, play him, but if you can’t just hold on as he would bowl only shorts spells of four overs. I played my shots and succeeded,” he said.

Australia’s debutant spinner Steve O’Keefe, who picked up two wickets, hailed Sarfraz’s century “Sarfraz was outstanding. Even from ball one he just changed the tempo,” the 29-year-old said. “He looked to come out with positive intent and, when they were going at two or two-and-a-half an over, his hundred is critical for them to not only make a hundred but make it in the fashion that he did.

Hard battle

“Basically it was a chanceless hundred and he batted beautifully. I think it goes to show that, if you are positive on this wicket, you don’t necessarily have to go at two an over. And the way that David Warner has batted tonight, how good our quicks have done to bowl so many maidens given we had day one and probably the toughest of the conditions with that ball. Really, hats off to our quicks and the way they bowled.”

O’Keefe believes that it will be a hard battle for the remainder of the Test. “It wasn’t spinning big, but there was a little bit of rough on the wicket. I’m not expecting Test cricket to be easy and playing Pakistan in conditions they’re used to and very good at is always going to be hard. Things can quickly turn,” he said.