Pakistan were 70/2 at the end of day three at the Gabba chasing an improbable 490 for victory after Australia declared their second innings at 202/5. Struggling to cope with the pink ball in the first innings, Pakistan showed better judgement against the seamers in their second attempt batting, but the fightback came too late in the Test.
Mohammad Amir and Sarfraz Ahmed took Pakistan past 100 and to some respectability in the first innings finishing on 142. Australia, aided by another Steven Smith special and Usman Khawaja's 74, raced to 202/5 at a run rate of 5.18, setting Pakistan 490 to win the Test.
If Australia expected to run over the hapless Pakistani batsmen late in the day under lights, they were proved wrong by a determined Azhar Ali, who remained unbeaten on 41 at stumps. Much of Pakistan's resistance will have to come from him and the experienced middle order, but the task before them is near impossible.
Here are the talking points from Day 3 of the 1st Test at Brisbane.
#5 Mohammad Amir shows Pakistani top order how to bat
After reducing Pakistan to 67/8 halfway through the 3rd session on Day 2, Australia expected to bowl them out by the end of the day. However, a resilient Mohammad Amir and attacking Sarfraz Ahmed took Pakistan to safety before resuming their fight today.
Amir was attacked with short stuff right from the onset of Day 3 by Mitchell Starc. Hazlewood tested his defence with consistent lines outside his off-stump. Amir, however, negotiated whatever thrown at him with sound defensive technique and crunchy back foot drives that would have put the Pakistani top order to shame.
Even when Nathan Lyon tested him by spinning the ball across him, Amir was up to the task and defended responsibly. Starc even urged him with a gesture to hit his bouncers to a deep third man in place. But the confident Amir just smiled back and continued to defend. Bird finally put an end to his 69 ball stay at the wicket.
#4 Steven Smith revels yet again
Smith showed his fantastic touch with the willow in the first innings with a composed 130. When he came to bat in the second innings, the situation demanded him to bat quickly to set up a declaration to make Pakistan bat under lights by the end of the day.
Smith was up to the task and shuffled to and fro in the crease, rotating the strike with ease and finding the boundary frequently. He flat-batted Wahab Riaz behind square leg with a ferocious pull shot to reveal his intentions.
He was adept in his handling of Yasir Shah and drove with confidence on either side of the wicket. He finally miscued a loft to long on off Yasir to end a fabulous knock.
#3 Khawaja fast becoming a dependable number 3
Usman Khawaja is quickly becoming a dependable no.3 batsman for Australia. After showing his skills against the pink ball in the Adelaide Test against South Africa with a scintillating hundred, Khawaja was at it again here at the Gabba.
After chipping Yasir straight to short mid-wicket in the first innings, Khawaja batted with more freedom in the second innings. He started off with a streaky edge of Mohammad Amir in the 3rd over, and did not hit another boundary till the 20th over. Another edge off Amir followed but after that Khawaja grew in confidence.
An exceptional drive off the bowling of Rahat Ali set him ablaze and he started ramping the pacy Wahab Riaz over the slip cordon highlighting his confidence. It required a sharp catch from Misbah-ul-Haq to end his stay at the crease.
#2 Time running out for Nic Maddinson
Australia might have been chasing some quick runs in the second innings, but Maddinson was playing for his place in the side. After being dismissed for 0 and 1 in his first two innings at Test level, Maddinson needed a big one.
Circumstances were ideal for the attacking batsman as Australia were searching for a declaration. Known for his skills in limited overs cricket, Maddinson was presented with an opportunity to get some runs with freedom.
However, he was undone by a quick bumper from Wahab Riaz and holed out to deep fine leg for 4 while trying to smack the leather out of the ball. He might escape the axe considering he was playing under instructions to attack but he needs to get starts at the least to retain a place ahead of Voges.
#1 Azhar Ali hangs on
After being the first man to be dismissed in the first innings, Azhar Ali went back to his sturdy ways with a gritty 41 in tough conditions against two seamers at the top of their game.
Hazlewood was miserly and probing in his 11 overs, 8 of which were maidens and Starc was pacy and dangerous under the lights getting that impressive late swing that makes him such a tricky customer. Ali was determined to stay on for Pakistan and hung on.
His 41 came off 104 balls and was a lesson in defence and leaving the ball for the other Pakistani batsmen. However, he was from bogged down and struck Bird for three boundaries in the 31st over.
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