Pakistan started confidently Thursday in pursuit of a 351-run target in the series-deciding third Test against Australia, ending on 73 without loss at the close in Lahore. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique were unbeaten on 42 and 27 respectively, leaving the home team needing another 278 runs for victory in 90 overs, with all 10 wickets intact when play resumes Friday. Australian skipper Pat Cummins declared their second innings at 227-3 shortly after tea, with Usman Khawaja scoring an unbeaten 104 -- his second century of the series.
Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd Test, Day 4, Live Cricket Score, Highlights, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pak vs Aus, 3rd Test, Day 4, Live
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We are back. The final session is set to begin. The Australian players take the field. Followed by Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq who walk out to open for Pakistan. It is Mitchell Starc who will start with the new ball. Here we go...
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... Day 2, Session 3 ...
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What a collapse this has been for Australia. Pakistan have surely crawled their way back into this Test match by picking up 5 wickets in the post-Lunch session. Pakistan would’ve planned to come and use the cracks to their benefit. Nauman Ali did just that and broke a crucial sixth-wicket stand. Later, it was just a magical spell by Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi that got Pakistan back into the game. Both the bowlers picked up four-fers. Pakistan would be happy to restrict Australia under 400 runs here. So, early Tea has been taken on Day 2. In the post-Tea session, Pakistan will come out to bat and would hope to get off to a solid start. The final session starts at 1505 IST (0935 GMT). Do join us to see how things pan out.
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133.3WShaheen Afridi to Mitchell Swepson
OUT! Cleaned up! Shaheen Afridi picks up his fourth wicket and that will be the end of the Australian innings. Afridi switches to 'round the wicket and hurls across a yorker on middle stump. It is just too quick for Mitchell Swepson to keep out and the ball sneaks under the willow to hit the base of middle stump. This has been a roaring come back from the Pakistani pacers and they have bundle out Australia for 391 runs!
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133.24Shaheen Afridi to Mitchell Swepson
FOUR! And again! This time to the right of gully. Banged in short and going across off stump. Swepson hangs back and dabs it past the fielder at gully for another boundary.
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133.14Shaheen Afridi to Mitchell Swepson
Edged and four! This is sliding across the off stump. Mitchell Swepson hangs back and pushes at it. The ball goes off the outside edge and in between the slip cordon and gully for a boundary.
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132.60Naseem Shah to Pat Cummins
Pitched up, around off at over 140 clicks and reversing into the batter. Pat Cummins does well to keep it out.
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132.50Naseem Shah to Pat Cummins
Sliding into middle and leg. Cummins defends it out solidly.
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132.41Naseem Shah to Mitchell Swepson
Around off, played towards cover-point and Pat Cummins wants the single. They do scamper through eventually.
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132.30Naseem Shah to Mitchell Swepson
Length ball, angling into leg stump and keeping a bit low. Swepson gets pushed onto the back foot but does well to get his blade on it.
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132.20Naseem Shah to Mitchell Swepson
Very full, curving back in from outside off. Mitchell Swepson does well to dig it out on the off side.
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132.10Naseem Shah to Mitchell Swepson
A length ball, close to the off pole and around 143 clicks. Swepson makes room to cut but gets a bottom edge past the off stump.
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131.60Shaheen Afridi to Pat Cummins
Fullish ball, sliding across the off stump. Cummins stays leg side and goes for the big heave across the line but misses the ball completely.
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131.54Shaheen Afridi to Pat Cummins
FOUR! Glorious from Pat Cummins! Full and outside off, Cummins creams it through extra cover for a welcome boundary.
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131.42 lbShaheen Afridi to Pat Cummins
TWO LEG BYES! Full length, angled down leg. Cummins fails to pick it up off his pads. It brushes his pads and runs down to fine leg. The batters collect two leg byes.
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131.32Shaheen Afridi to Pat Cummins
Full length, on the pads. Pat Cummins clips it through mid-wicket for a brace.
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131.20Shaheen Afridi to Pat Cummins
Full length, angled down leg. Pat Cummins leaves it alone.
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131.10Shaheen Afridi to Pat Cummins
Full and outside off, Cummins looks to hammer it across but misses.
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Mitchell Swepson is the last man in.
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130.6WNaseem Shah to Nathan Lyon
OUT! BOWLED! Nothing better than a full ball coming back into the tailender and it is just too quick for Nathan Lyon. Naseem Shah bends his back this time and goes full and at the stumps at 144.5 kph. The ball nips back in sharply and richocets off Lyon's pads before hitting the middle stump. This has truly been a brilliant performance from the young pacer and with just one wicket remaining in the innings, he probably deserves to get that elusive five-wicket haul.