Hosts ended the day at 288/3 after winning the toss with the captain unbeaten on 114, aided by Matt Renshaw (71) and Peter Handscomb (64*).

By Abdullah Ansari (15th December, 2016)

Toss: Australia won the toss, Steve Smith opted to bat first.

Teams

Australia: MT Renshaw, DA Warner, UT Khawaja, SPD Smith (c), PSP Handscomb, NJ Maddinson, MS Wade (wk), MA Starc, JR Hazlewood, NM Lyon, JM Bird.

Pakistan: Sami Aslam, Azhar Ali, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (c), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Rahat Ali.

Australia won the toss on the first day of the series and promptly opted to bat - Lyon was selected ahead of Sayers while Pakistan went with an all left-arm pace attack with Yasir returning to the XI. Pakistan began decently with the new ball but every loose ball was punished with the openers hitting a boundary off each of the first 5 overs to ensure they didn't get bogged down. The swing eventually reduced as Yasir was introdued into the attack in just the 11th over. Wahab had a shout for LBW turned down as the bowlers looked to keep it tight and force the batsmen into a mistake. That eventually came in Amir's second spell as Warner went too far across his stumps to flick the ball and as LBW to Amir for 32. Yasir struck in the next over as Khawaja just chipped one to Misbah at mid-wicket with Pakistan finishing the session on a high at 89/2.

The second session began poorly for Pakistan as Rahat Ali failed to keep the pressure on the batsmen with Steve Smith manipulating the field well. Wahab came on to bowl instead and bowled some good deliveries, eventually getting Renshaw caught behind after he made his maiden Test fifty, a valuable knock of 71. Yasir and Amir bowled tight spells as Handscomb struggled to make runs at the start, while Smith also slowed down as he reached his fifty. Azhar came on to bowl the last over before dinner and Smith nicked one behind but Sarfraz grassed the big chance with the Australian captain on 53.

The third session began with some more loose bowling from Pakistan as Rahat gave some runs away while Azhar's part-time leg-spin also failed to have the desired effect. Runs were easier to come by as the batsmen got going after the interval. There was a moment of major concern for Pakistan as Amir went down in the field after twisting his knee while fielding and he seemed to be in a lot of pain. However, he returned after a few overs with the injury not a serious one. Handscomb finally got to a patient half-century as well as Pakistan took the 2nd new ball as soon as it was available. There was swing for Amir and Rahat straight away with Amir bowling a superb first over - in fact, he had Smith caught behind for 97 if Pakistan had reviewed but no one heard the tiny edge which was picked up by Hawkeye. The little battle continued as Amir continued bowling good lines with some movement but Smith eventually got to his hundred with a boundary. Australia ended the day at 288/3.

Summary: The 137-run unbroken partnership between Smith and Handscomb has firmly handed Australia the initiative. When Pakistan dismissed Renshaw, they had a chance to get to the inexperienced lower middle-order but the two batsmen showed grit and determination to fight out the tough period and then made hay when the bowlers tired towards the end of the day. It wasn't smooth sailing towards all through out but Smith survived two chances on 53 and 97 to put Australia in the driving seat. Pakistan bowled well in patches with Amir bowling tightly throughout the day while Wahab also bowled well at times but lacked the consistent penetration to down the Aussies. The dropped catch by Sarfraz may eventually prove very costly for the tourists. A hard slog awaits them unless they can make some quick breakthroughs early on Day 2 and then put up a good show with the fight - history shows that the opposite is more likely to happen.

Fall of wickets:

1-70 (Warner, 23.1 ov)
2-75 (Khawaja, 24.4 ov)
3-151 (Renshaw, 43.2 ov)

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