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Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test, Day 3 Highlights: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith Help Australia Increase Lead vs Pakistan
Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test, Day 3 Highlights: Australia are in complete control of the proceedings heading into Day 4 of the ongoing first Test against Pakistan in Perth
- NDTV Sports Desk
- Updated: December 16, 2023 10:08 am IST
Read Time: 1 min
Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test, Day 3: Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith solid at stumps.© AFP
Australia vs Pakistan 1st Test, Day 3 Highlights: Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith dug deep to help Australia increase the lead to 300 against Pakistan on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test in Perth. At stumps, Australia were 84/2, having taken a first innings lead of 216 earlier in the day. Earlier, Nathan Lyon bagged three wickets as Australia bowled Pakistan out for 271 moments before Tea on Day 3. Pakistan began the day on 132-2 after building a solid foundation in chasing the home side's first innings 487, but were no match for Australia's top-class attack. Agha Salman was unbeaten on 28 with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc claiming two each for the hosts. (Scorecard)
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AUS vs PAK, 1st Test, Day 3 Highlights
We are back for the chase! The Pakistani openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq make their way out to the middle for the run chase. Mitchell Starc is into the bowling with three slips.
... FOURTH INNINGS ...
Australia's surely got plenty on the board, and they'll look to bundle up the visitors as soon as possible as the pitch turns trickier for batting on Day 4. Whereas Pakistan needs nothing short of a miracle to create history at Optus. Brace yourselves, we've got an exciting run-chase coming up! Stick around.
On the flip side, Pakistan's bowling on Day 4 was kind of struggling after an impressive start. They managed to send the openers packing yesterday, but couldn't produce breakthroughs consistently and the hosts kept piling runs. Khurram Shahzad was the lone ranger with an impressive 3-fer, Shaheen and Aamer Jamal added one to the tally.
Alright folks, here comes the declaration from Pat Cummins, and Australia is sitting pretty with a solid lead of 449 runs. Usman Khawaja's batting was like a brick wall against the Pakistani pace, notching up a resilient knock of 90 off 190 balls. Even after losing Warner and Labuschagne cheaply, Steven Smith played a crucial hand of 45. Mitchell Marsh was aggressive from the beginning and stitched up a brilliant partnership with Khawaja and kept the scoreboard ticking with his quick 63 runs off just 68.
OUT! TAKEN! Usman Khawaja misses out on his hundred and that will be it for the Australian innings. Shaheen Afridi bowls this back of a length and around off, Usman Khawaja backs away and slashes hard at it but only manages to get an outside edge as the ball flies towards third man where Babar Azam comes forward and takes a fine catch. Cummins signals for declaration and the target for Pakistan will be 450!
FOUR! Usman Khawaja moves into the 90s now! Shaheen Afridi bangs this short and around middle, Usman Khawaja shuffles across and hooks it towards the fine leg fence for a boundary.
Overpitched and on off, Usman Khawaja drives it towards mid off for a single.
Full again and around off, Usman Khawaja moves a long way across to scoop it but misses and gets hit on the pads.
Fuller one and around off, Usman Khawaja backs away and drills it through cover-point for a brace.
So close! Khurram Shahzad serves this full and on off, nips back in sharply, Usman Khawaja stays back to defend but gets cut in half as the ball goes just over the stumps.
Short of a length and on middle, Mitchell Marsh pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.
FOUR! The Bison is dealing in boundaries now! Khurram Shahzad lands this back of a length and on off, Mitchell Marsh picks up the length early and clubs it wide of deep square leg for four runs.
Short of a length and on middle, Usman Khawaja makes room to cut it away but misses.
FOUR MORE! A bit streaky this time! Shaheen Afridi bangs this one short and on middle, Usman Khawaja looks to pull but gets a top edge over the keeper's head for another boundary.
FOUR! Another boundary! Shaheen Afridi bowls this on a hard length and on off, Usman Khawaja lets the ball come to him and just opens the face of the bat at the last moment to steer it between first slip and slip cordon for four runs.
In the air..safe! This is short again and on middle, Mitchell Marsh goes for the pull but gets hurried as the ball goes off the top edge but lands well in front of deep square leg. They cross.
FOUR! SMASHED! Shaheen Afridi lands this short of a length and on middle, sits up nicely for the batter, Mitchell Marsh stands tall and hammers it towards the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary.
Fuller delivery but down the leg side, Mitchell Marsh misses his glance.
On a length and around off, Mitchell Marsh guides it with the outer half of the bat towards backward point for one.