Australia responded in the typical aggressive fashion after Pakistan declared their innings at 443/9, courtesy a fine double hundred from Azhar Ali, the first of its kind by a Pakistani batsman in Australia.
He had the slogger, Sohail Khan for company as the duo plundered at a rate above 8 runs per over at a time to speed up the declaration.
Warner started in his usual manner and raced to his half-century at a run a ball. While he lost his young opening partner, Matt Renshaw, to a moment of recklessness against the wily Yasir Shah, Khawaja joined him in attacking.
The duo put on a 198 run stand in 35 overs, giving Pakistan no space to hide as balls flew to all parts of the boundary. Sohail Khan and Mohammad Amir bowled good probing spells but were unlucky that the edges flew wide away from the fielders.
Here are the talking points from Day 3 at MCG.
#5 Azhar Ali's stunning double hundred
If Pakistan batsmen need some inspiration to not give away their wickets cheaply, they need not look much farther than their opening batsman and ODI skipper, Azhar Ali. The opener has been in silken touch in 2016 and notched up his 3rd hundred of the year yesterday and was unbeaten on 139.
On Day 3, with some able assistance from the tail-enders, Azhar swiftly moved past 150 and pressed on the accelerator to speed up the declaration. He lost Sohail Khan when he was on 198, a nervy moment when he could also have been run out.
But he is not new to landmarks having compiled a triple hundred against West Indies earlier in the year. He moved past a breathtaking double hundred, the first by a Pakistani batsman in Australia, and remained unbeaten as Pakistan declared at 443/9.
#4 Sohail Khan is Pakistan's new Abdur Razzaq?
Sohail Khan came back into the Pakistan side after a long hiatus for the World Cup in 2015. Since then he has been a regular member of the ODI and Test sides. More known for his bowling skills, Sohail has been proving to be pretty good with the bat of late.
He had made a 39-ball 40 and 47-ball 37 against the Kiwis in the two-match series. As if to show that those knocks were by no means a fluke, Sohail came in to aid Azhar Ali. He was patient at first and defended calmly. After the drinks break, Pakistan decided to step on the gas and Sohail did the bulk of the work.
He hoisted Lyon for back to back sixes and then added two more later. He slashed Starc with authority and raced to his first half-century in Tests. He finished on 65 off 65 balls with four sixes. With Pakistan missing the likes of Afridi and Razzaq who could speed up the declaration, Sohail might be their new go-to man in the lower order with the willow.
Also Read: Australia vs Pakistan 2nd Test Day 3 Stats: Azhar Ali joins Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar; David Warner scores first ton in MCG
#3 Warner's lucky first hundred at MCG
David Warner has been a belligerent force for Australia at the top of the order this year. While this is one of his more silent years in Test cricket, he has revelled as the ODI opener cracking six hundreds in 2016.
With 443 on board for Pakistan and two and a half days already consumed, Australia needed Warner to fire them close to Pakistan's total quickly. The short and powerful opener was up to the task and belted the Pakistan bowlers all around the park.
While Amir and Sohail bowled superb spells where Warner found the edge at least five times, none of them went to the fieldsmen in a frustrating day for the Pakistani bowlers. Yasir Shah was carted around at more than six an over, reminiscent of the carnage on Imran Tahir in Adelaide.
#2 Yasir Shah's miserable day
Yasir Shah has been Pakistan's trump card in Test matches of late. He has this uncanny ability to churn out wickets from nowhere with his variations and control. He was into his act early in the day by bowling Renshaw while he tried to slog sweep.
The early wicket and the turn generated by Yasir made it look like Pakistan was winning the battle. However, Warner shut out any such thoughts with a scything attack on the leggie, carting him around at almost seven an over at one stage.
Khawaja did not spare him either, cutting and driving vehemently to disrupt his rhythm. By the time Yasir had bowled 11 overs, he had given away 76 runs. He ended the day with figures of 16-0-97-1.
#1 Khawaja cementing the no.3 spot
Usman Khawaja's place in the Australian squad had been a question mark after he was dropped during the Sri Lankan tour. The southpaw did not take the axe silently and was pretty vocal about the treatment meted out to him following a stellar summer performance.
He was given another chance in the series against the Proteas and he grabbed it with both hands scoring two half-centuries and one match-winning hundred in the day-night game. He co tinted the form against Pakistan at the Gabba hitting a 74.
Today, Khawaja walked in with Warner in an attacking mode and instead of the usual supporting act, he joined forces with his partner and attacked the Pakistani bowlers. He was more watchful later on and finished unbeaten on 95 at stumps.
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