(A resurgent Pakistan looks to restrict Australia after scoring 454. Catch live cricket scores and live updates of Day three of the first Test here)
That’s stumps! Bad light has called off remaining play for the day. Pakistan’s openers have made a composed and solid start, which is good to see considering the side’s ability to implode at the top. Michael Clarke found himself lacking any answers to the situation. Great day for the hosts. Their bowling side performed as a unit and they can now look to score quickly on Day 4, and put Australia in to bat with sufficient overs in hand.
Pakistan have made a slow start to their innings. They would not like to lose any wickets today, and leave the scoring for tomorrow. Australia are not going down without a fight. Their bowlers have shown great intensity here.
Gone! Mitchell Johnson who was playing so well, is tempted to play a big shot but finds the fielder near the boundary. A great innings of 37 comes to an end. O’Keefe falls shortly after, and Australia trail by 151 in the first innings.
OUT! M Johnson c (sub) Masood b Rahat Ali 37 (62)/OUT! O’Keefe c Misbah b Yasir Shah 6 (47)
These two batsman have shown great purpose after the Tea break. Johnson’s innings especially has been admirable. He had come good with the ball, and is now delivering the goods with the bat. These runs will hurt Pakistan as their batsman would already be itching to get on the pitch and score quicky.
It’s tea! This has been a great session for Pakistan. Australia looked in control after Warner’s departure, but they’ve looked uncomfortable ever since Haddin was bowled by Imran Khan.
Another one bites the dust! Hafeez takes the wicket of Peter Siddle. Siddle reviews it, but the decision isn’t overturned. Pakistan showing good intent to dismiss Australia for as little runs as possible.
Another review! Babar appeals for an LBW! Umpire gives it not out, but replays suggest that it was plumb. Marsh has to go. Australia look in huge trouble here! Pakistan must sniff the opportunity and not let the tail harm them too much.
OUT! M Marsh lbw b Babar 27(61)
Rahat Ali almost sends debutant Mitchell Marsh packing! The umpire gives him out, but Marsh looks convinced he hasn’t hit it. He reviews, and the decision is overturned as replays suggest that there wasn’t any outside edge. Both Mitchells (Marsh and Johnson) batting with determination, but Haddin’s wicket has infused energy into Pakistan’s body language.
Pakistan have taken the new ball, and Imran Khan comes in to make use of it. And he does it! Imran Khan takes his first test wicket. It’s full and the ball just catches Haddin’s inside edge and rattles the stumps.
OUT! Brad Haddin b Imran Khan 22(46)
Marsh and Haddin are piling on the runs steadily for Australia. Yasir Shah is taken apart for 13 runs in the 73rd over by Haddin. The current partnership is now worth 37 runs. and Australia are 209 runs behind.
We’re back after lunch, and it’s Yasir to start proceedings. OH HE’S GOT HIS MAN! Warner is out off the third ball after lunch, cleaned up by Yasir.
OUT! D Warner 133(174) b Yasir
OH HUGE WICKET! Right at the stroke of lunch, Yasir bowls a terrible short ball that Smith smacks right into the hands of Hafeez! In walks debutant Mitchell Marsh. And he survives the final over before Lunch. So Australia head to Lunch at 207 for four.
OUT! S Smith 22(44) c Hafeez b Yasir
Yasir Shah continues now. He is bowling alongside Babar. Smith batting well here, while Warner has gone into a bit of a shell in the last few overs. And now he opens up with a six over midwicket off Hafeez!
Smith has come out positively. Warner is showing commendable restraint here, but he will keen to up his scoring rate. One feels that he is waiting to unleash a bit swipe across the line for six. He is content with the single though. Australia have scored just about 60 runs this session, in 26 overs, with three wickets.
Clarke is one of Australia’s best players of spin, so his innings will be very important here. One feels that if he can come up with a big innings, Pakistan will be firmly on the back foot. BUT HE DOESN’T! Zulfiqar Babar gets the bat-pad into play and Azhar Ali gobbles it up at short leg.
OUT! M Clarke 2(13) c Azhar b Zulfiqar
AND HE’S GONE. That’s a crucial wicket for Pakistan, as Alex Doolan — who was really struggling — fails to ground his bat in time while attempting a sharp run.
OUT! A Doolan 5(34) run out Rahat
Australia have yet to score a boundary today. With David Warner in the middle, that is truly commendable. And now Warner unleashes a cover drive that will find the fence and give him his first Test ton against Pakistan, and his ninth overall. Well played, Warner. This is his third Test ton in three innings too. Edged, but it doesn’t carry.
Doolan not able to get off the blocks here. He has faced 15 balls without scoring. And he finally gets a run thanks to a mis-field! Warner has slowed down considerably as well. Good bowling from the Pakistanis, they have restricted Australia quite well. Bit of drama at the end of the 44th over, Doolan was in a bit of trouble with the second run, but it would have needed a direct hit to cause any real damage.
Hafeez bowling nicely to Warner here. Rahat continues. Both men looking good today morning. OH HE’S BOWLED HIM! Rahat finally breaks through, a wonderful partnership comes to an end. Rogers cleaned up for a hard-made 38.
OUT! C Rogers 38(130) b Rahat
Rahat Ali to start proceedings on Day Three. Warner on strike. And he gets off the mark today with a nice little shot through covers. He’ll get three runs for it. Here’s Hafeez now. Three dot balls in a row to Warner. Quick single now. Good start to the day.
It was an interesting second day with the batsman dominating for most part of the day. Pakistan resumed at 219 for four, and Australia still looked fresh to make early inroads. But Asad Sahfiq was dropped by Alex Doolan and he went on to stitch a valuable partnership with Misbah-ul-Haq. However, the gamechanger was Sarfraz Ahmed who scored Pakistan’s fourth fastest Test century getting there in 80 balls.
Sarfraz played a breezy knock and along with Shafiq shared another crucial partnership which took Pakistan beyond 400. The ‘keeper-batsman got his second ton. Earlier, he had notched up his fifth consecutive Test fifty.
In reply, Australia were off to a slow start with Rogers being extremely watchful. However, it was Warner who gave the much-needed momentum to the innings. He is unbeaten on 75. He attacked the spinners using his feet well. At 113 for no loss, Australia are 341 runs behind. Australia have got a good start and it will be interesting to see how they progress ahead.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 454 (Younis Khan 106, Sarfaraz Ahmed 109; Mitchell Johsnon 3 for 39) lead Australia 113 for 0 (David Warner 75*, Chris Rogers 31*) by 341 runs.
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