Australia set daunting task of 490 runs for Pakistan

Pakistan tour of Australia, 3 Test match series
1^st Test (Day-Night Match) Australia V Pakistan
Date & Venue: 15^th to 19^th December 2016, Brisbane Cricket Ground, Gabba-Brisbane
Day 3: Pakistan started the day on overnite score of 97/8; Sarfraz Ahmed 31 and Mohammad Amir 8 started the proceedings. Australians don’t have to wait for long for the first 1^st wicket in the morning as Jackson Bird provides the breakthrough as Mohammad Amir caught by Mattehw on 21 runs. Meanwhile Sarfraj Ahmed was playing his natural game and went on to complete his 10^th fifty.

But the last man Rahat Ali didn’t stayed long on the crease as the last thing Pakistan wanted is a run out; Rahat Ali got run out a direct hit by David Warner and Pakistan was bundled out on 142/10 and Australia got the lead of 287 runs. Australia decided not to enforce the follow on and they decided to bat again.

David Warner started assertively but trying to pull a delivery from Mohammad Amir that was not short for the pull stroke, succeeding only in scoop the ball to mid-on on 12 runs. Renshaw was undone by the late out swinger from Rahat Ali and was caught in slips on just 6 runs. Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, however put 111 run partnership for the 3^rd wicket. Duo constructed the lead with a blend of the traditional and the innovative strokes, though neither went on to make a ton. Smith was caught by Rahat on 63 on the balling of Yasir Shah while Khwaja was brilliantly caught Misbah-ul-Haq on 74 runs bowled by rahat Ali.

Peter Handscomb played little cameo, but Maddinson managed only single boundary before he was caught by Babar Azam on fine leg. Australia finally declared during the dinner break on 202/5 and set the target of 490 runs for Pakistan. Sami Aslam and Azhar Ali opened the innings for Pakistan; again Pakistan had worst start again as they lost Sami Aslam on 15 runs caught by Renshow bowling Starc.

Babar Azam joined Azhar Ali but he was also got out on 14 runs and Pakistan was reduced on 54/2. Only Azhar Ali was playing well and stayed not out on 41 runs till the end of the day 3 and Younis Khan on 0* on other end.