Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris must be looking at the first innings for the Prime Minister's XI as a missed opportunity after they both made starts but failed to go on.
The two openers are in contention to replace David Warner when he retires from Test cricket and had the chance to make an impression in front of selectors.
Prior to their innings, Pakistan captain Shan Masood scored 201 not out at No.3, before he declared at 9-391 from 116.2 overs.
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The Manuka Oval pitch became significantly slower throughout day two of the first-class fixture, with both openers finding runs hard to come by.
Harris peeled off 49 from 102 balls before he was caught at mid-on off the bowling of Abrar Ahmed.
His opening partner Bancroft followed soon after, given out lbw after making 53 off 128 balls.
Australian cricket great Brett Lee praised the 31-year-old for doing "everything asked of him this season", while former Australian all-rounder Brendon Julian highlighted his patience at the crease.
"He played some good shots early on, ball swung around, seamed around a bit … I thought he was quite patient, just had to wait," Julian said on Fox Cricket.
"(Pakistan) had the catching mid-wicket, catching fielders on both sides of the wicket, it wasn't easy, he had to grind it out.
"He was solid, so was Marcus Harris, both solid at the top of the order.
"It's not easy to score when you've got no slips, catchers at mid-wicket and on the offside, and a slow outfield."
Bancrift looked frustrated when he was given out, with former NSW all-rounder Brad McNamara identifying a particular "weakness" Pakistan may have capitalised on.
"The thing that's striking about that dismissal is it's what we've seen in Cam Bancroft's career, playing across that front pad has been a bit of a weakness and I think it was almost an, 'Oh no, not again' (reaction)," he said on Fox Cricket.
The PM's XI finished the day 2-149 after 60 overs with Matthew Renshaw on 18 not out off 71 balls, while Cameron Green has 19.
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