Hosts finish day at 278/2 after Azhar Ali's unbeaten 205 helped Pakistan to a big first-innings total.

By Abdullah Ansari (28th December, 2016)

Toss: Pakistan won the toss, Misbah-ul-Haq 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, Sohail Khan, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz.

Day 3 of the MCG Test began with the Pakistan batsmen batting a bit more conservatively as the bowlers searched for a breakthrough. Starc got that very breakthrough as the around the wicket angle to Amir worked, with the batsman tickling one down the leg-side to the wicket-keeper for 29. Sohail was circumspect first up while Azhar surpassed 150 at the other end. Azhar soon went past Majid Khan's 158 to take ownership of the highest score by a Pakistani batsman in Australia. Sohail began to get going as well as the rain interrupted play, dampening proceedings. The break proved to be a short-lived one but seemed to gallivanise the Pakistan batsmen as they showed more intent straight away. Azhar played orthodox shots while Sohail went after Lyon, using the long handle to good effect. He smashed three sixes on his way to a maiden Test fifty while Azhar looked to pick gaps in the field to his advantage. The batsmen continued to plunder runs in the lead up to the Lunch interval, with 88 off the last 10 overs as Sohail raced to a run-a-ball 65 while Azhar was on 196*.

Sohail's innings came to an end in the first over after the break as the batsmen went for a quick single, which he wasn't quite up to, ending up getting run out for 65. Azhar brought up his double-hundred in the next over, becoming the first Pakistani batsman to get to the landmark in Australia. Wahab didn't last long as he tried to hoick one over mid-wicket and was caught - Misbah decided that was enough and declared the innings at 443/9, Azhar finishing on 205*.

The Pakistan pacers began well at the start, bowling good lines as Warner and Renshaw played and missed several times with a few edges as well. One genuine edge that Sohail got frm Renshaw fell well short of slip while Warner somehow survived despite a couple of dangerous attempted shots. His aggressive style of batting meant that despite all the plays and misses, he still put the pressure back on the bowlers by putting the bad balls away more often than not. Yasir and Wahab came into the attack and the former struck in his second over as Renshaw looked to go for a big slog sweep, but missed the ball completely, getting bowled for 10. Warner continued in his trademark manner, getting to his fifty and completing 5000 Test runs. Wahab struggled with no-balls while Yasir seemed to completely lose control of his line and length as Pakistan wilted towards the end of the session, leaking runs in a hurry. With the leggie going for over six an over, Azhar came on to bowl a few before Tea as Australia went to the break in the ascendancy at 131/1 after just 28 overs.

The bowlers came out looking more focused after the interval but Wahab's no-ball problems were to prove costly for Pakistan. He had the ball reversing and built up a good head of steam, bowling 150 kph and had Warner bowled for 81, only for it to be adjudged a no-ball. Wahab continued to struggle with his front-foot, bowling several more no-balls as the Australians made hay. Amir returned to bowl and continued with tight lines, inducing a few false strokes but failed to make the cruicial breakthrough as Warner sped towards his ton. He brought up his first Test ton as the MCG with an inside-edge for four while Khawaja also moved to a fifty. Yasir in the meantime continued to struggle as the batsmen found the boundary with alarming regularity. Warner's innings finally came to an end as Wahab had him caught down the leg-side after he made a run-a-ball 144. Khawaja took over with the clock winding down but was made to wait for his hundred as Australia ended the day at 278/2 with the left-hander not out on 95.

Summary: A manic day of Test cricket with over 400 runs scored. Azhar was sublime on his way to Pakistan's highest score Down Under while Sohail exhibited some clean hitting as the Australian bowlers tired. However, once it was Australia's turn to bat, they survived the initial period without much damage despite several close calls and then plundered the bowling as Yasir and Wahab badly struggled. Credit must go to Warner as he did not allow the bowlers to settle at any point after he got a start and Khawaja was effective in his own right. Australia have edged ahead in the game - Pakistan will now probably look at a draw as a positive outcome.

Fall of wickets:

7-317 (Mohammad Amir, 105.1 ov)
8-435 (Sohail Khan, 124.6 ov),
9-443 (Wahab Riaz, 126.3 ov)

1-46 (Renshaw, 13.1 ov)
2-244 (Warner, 48.5 ov)

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