STUMPS Day 3: Australia 187 for 6 and leading by 241 runs.
A quirky end to a curious day’s cricket. First we had Pat Cummins wrap up the Pakistan innings with a typically sublime five-wicket haul. Then Pakistan hit back, obliterating Australia’s top four batters to have them on their knees at 16-4. It could have been worse for thr home side if Abdullah Shafique hadn’t dropped Mitchell Marsh at 47-4. Instead he spilled a regulation catch and the big allrounder, with Steve Smith, rattled off another 150 runs before snicking off four runs short of his century. Smith fell in the final over of the day to end a fierce and fantastic day’s cricket.
If Pakistan wrap up Australia’s tail for not many in the morning and keep the chase under 300 we may yet have a thrilling Test finish on our hands. But if the tail wags and the chase extends toward 400, Pakistan are at risk of folding like a cheap suit as they did in Perth. Either way, the fight is on and two proud cricket nations will duke it out afresh on the morrow.
Stand by for a match report, thanks for your company. See you on Day 4!
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WICKET! Smith c Salman b Shaheen 50 (Australia 187-6)
A meek end to a marathon innings by Smith! Shaheen dug it in short and Smith fended it straight to Salman at short gully. Smith hadn’t scored in 23 balls and he looked ill at ease all day. A weird innings by him but a useful one for Australia and a good wicket for Pakistan to finish Day 3 on.
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