One cracking moving day in Lahore! Pakistan batters lost the plot against Aussie pacers and conceded an innings lead of 123 runs to the visitors take in the third and decisive Test. With Abdullah Shafique (81 off 228) and Azhar Ali (78 off 208) hitting patient fifties, Pakistan looked set to eclipse Australia's first innings total of 391, but they lost the last seven wickets for 20 runs and four for no run as Pat Cummins (5/56) and Mitchell Starc (4/33) ran amok on a seemingly sluggish Gaddafi Stadium pitch. Skipper Babar Azam hit a fluent 67 off 131 but Pakistan collapsed from 248/4 to 268 all out. At the close of play on Day 3, Usman Khawaja and David Warner were unbeaten on 7 and 4 runs respectively with Australia taking a lead of big 134 runs. Catch Day 3 highlights and cricket scores of the third PAK vs AUS Test match here:
6:02 PM IST: Stumps
Shaheen Afridi continues. David Warner pulls the fifth ball for a four. And that's the end day's play. Australia's lead now is 134 runs. AUS - 11/0 (3)
5:53 PM IST: Khawaja Four
Usman Khawaja flicks the fifth ball for a four, and take three off the sixth, to square leg. Australia lead by 130 runs. AUS - 7/0 (1)
Naseem Shah to share the new ball.
5:49 PM IST: Aussie 2nd Innings Starts
Shaheen Afridi with the new ball. Usman Khawaja to take the strike. David Warner is his opening partner.
5:42 PM IST: Pakistan Out For 268
Another one. Hits the off stump. Beauty. Naseem Shah lasts one ball. Pakistan are cleaned up for 268. They were 214/3. Mitchell Starc's figures: 4/33 in 20.4 overs. Pat Cummins' figures: 5/56 in 24. Pakistan concede 123 runs in the first innings. PAK - 268 (116.4); AUS - 391
5:36 PM IST: Starc Joins The Party
Mitchell Starc continues. He gets another one. And the big one. Babar Azam goes for 67 off 131. Trapped in front. And umpire's call. Six wickets for 20 runs. Last four for four. Last five for 12. Pakistan trail by 123 runs. Naseem Shah is the last man for Pakistan. PAK - 268/9 (116.1)
5:31 PM IST: 5/56 For Cummins In 23.5
Another one for Pat Cummins continues. Hasan Ali goes for a four-ball duck. Steve Smith takes a low catch at first sleep. Cummins becomes the first to take a fifer in the series. Pakistan trail by 123 runs. Shaheen Afridi is the new man. PAK - 268/8 (115.5)
5:27 PM IST: Fourth For Cummins
Pat Cummins continues. He traps Nauman Ali in front. Pakistan review, but it's hitting the middle. Ali goes for a three-ball duck. Cummin's figures so far: 4/56 in 23.1 overs. 20 runs and four wickets in the last 60 balls. Pakistan trail by 123 runs. Hasan Ali is the new man. PAK - 268/7 (115.1)
5:14 PM IST: Third For Cummins
Pat Cummins on with his 23rd over. Three dots, and Sajid Khan is bowled. Another beauty. Inside edge and onto the stumps. Khan goes for 6 off 17. Three wickets for 17 runs in the last 60 balls. Pakistan trail by 127 runs. Nauman Ali joins Babar Azam (63 off 124). PAK - 264/6 (113.4)
4:56 PM IST: Starc Gets Rizwan
Mitchell Starc produces another beauty, this time to bamboozle Mohammad Rizwan (1 off 14). Bowled by an unplayable out-swinging delivery. 15 runs and two wickets in the last 60 balls. Starc's figures so far: 2/26 in 17.2 overs. Pakistan trail by 135 runs. Sajid Khan is the new man. PAK - 256/5 (110.2)
4:31 PM IST: Alam Goes
Mitchell Starc returns for his 16th over. Two dots, and he cleans up Fawad Alam. Massive gap, with feet not moving and it's breached. Alam goes for 13 off 56. And a 34-run stand is broken. First wicket for Starc in the innings. Pakistan trail by 143 runs. Mohammad Rizwan is the new man. PAK - 248/4 (106.3)
4:09 PM IST: Babar Fifty
Mitchell Swepson continues. Babar Azam takes a single off the fourth ball and fifty, in 91 balls. His stand with Fawad Alam (12 off 43) in now worth 28 in 84. Pakistan trail by 145 runs. PAK - 242/3 (100.4)
3:33 PM IST: Post-tea Session Starts
Cameron Green on with is 12th over. His figures so far : 0/33. Babar Azam to take the strike.
3:12 PM IST: Tea
Nathan Lyon continues. A single from his 31st over. His figures so far: 1/33. 25 runs and one wicket in the last ten overs. Babar Azam (42 off 66) and Fawad Alam (5 off 14) are the unbeaten batters. Pakistan trail by 164 runs. PAK - 227/3 (92)
2:58 PM IST: Alam Survives
Nathan Lyon on with his 30th over. Fawad Alam hits the second ball for a four, a back foot punch through cover. And Australia take a review for LBW. And they lose it. Ball keeps low and crashes into the ankles. But outside the line, impact outside. Four from the over. Pakistan trail by 166 runs. PAK - 225/3 (90)
2:45 PM IST: Cummins Stunner
Pat Cummins continues with his 20th over. Three dots, then a sensational caught & bowled. Azhar Ali hits back the fourth ball but Cummins pulls off a stunning catch on his follow through. A remarkable grab. Ali goes for 78 off 208. Ali's stand with Babar Azam (34 off 48) was 44 off 91. Pakistan trail by 177 runs. Fawad Alam is the new man. PAK - 214/2 (86.3)
2:24 PM IST: 200 Up
Nathan Lyon continues. Babar Azam hits back-to-back fours off the third and fourth balls. 10 from the over. Azam (25 off 38) and Azhar Ali (75 off 190) are in a 32-run stand. Pakistan trail by 189 runs. PAK - 202/2 (82)
2:17 PM IST: Drinks
Second new ball taken. Mitchell Starc with the new cherry. A single from his 14th over. Pakistan trail by 199 runs. PAK - 192/2 (81)
Drinks. And here's Babar Azam's six in the 78 over. Showing no respect to Nathan Lyon.
1:35 PM IST: Lyon Strikes
One review remaining, and Pat Cummins is convinced his teammates are right. A massive shout for caught behind. And he doesn't burn it. A little tickle, as confirmed by UltraEdge and Abdullah Shafique (81 off 228) is out. Nice take behind the wicket by Alex Carey. Nathan Lyon strikes in his 21st over. 150-run stand broken. Babar Azam is the new man. PAK - 170/2 (71.2)
1:27 PM IST: 150-run Stand
Nathan Lyon on with his 20th over. Five dots then Abdullah Shafique sweeps the last ball for a four, and 150-run stand in 351 balls. Shafique on 81 off 226 balls and Azhar Ali on 68 off 159. Pakistan trail by 221 runs. PAK - 170/1 (70)
1:15 PM IST: Play Resumes
Players are back for the post-lunch session. Nathan Lyon (0/40 in 18) to resume the proceedings. Azhar Ali to take the strike.
12:34 PM IST: Lunch
Mitchell Swepson on with his 12th over. Azhar Ali hits the first ball for a four to deep midwicket. A dot then, Steve Smith floors a tough chance at first slip. Five from the over. Swepson's figures so far: 0/33. Abdullah Shafique (75 off 214) and Azhar Ali (63 off 152) are in an unbeaten stand of 139 off 333 balls. Pakistan trail by 232 runs. PAK - 159/1 (67)
12:04 PM IST: 0/32 For Lyon
Nathan Lyon on with his 15th over. One probing over, a maiden to Azhar Ali. Lyon's figures: 0/32. 22 runs in the last ten overs for Pakistan. They still train Australia by 247 runs. PAK - 144/1 (60)
11:47 AM IST: Swepson Continues
Mitchell Swepson on with his ninth over. Two singles from it. His figures so far: 0/24. 23 runs in the last ten overs for Pakistan. Abdullah Shafique (63) and Azhar Ali (53) are in an unbeaten 112-run stand. Pakistan trail by 259 runs. PAK - 132/1 (55)
11:18 AM IST: Ali Fifty
Nathan Lyon on with his 10th over. A single to mid-wicket off the third and fifty for Azhar Ali (50 off 103). His stand with Abdullah Shafique (56 off 151) is now worth 102 in 221 balls. Pakistan trail by 269 runs. PAK - 122/1 (48.3)
11:06 AM IST: Shafique Fifty
Mitchell Starc gets his first over today. Abdullah Shafique drives the second ball to mid-off for a couple, and fifty in 137 balls (seven fours). Australia take a review for LBW. Going down and missing leg. Two from the over. Pakistan trail by 280 runs. PAK - 111/1 (46)
10:53 AM IST: 100 Up
Cameron Green on with his ninth over. Azhar Ali hits the first ball for a four, through midwicket. This is Ali's third four today. Seven from the over. Runs coming thick and fast. PAK - 109/1 (43)
10:31 AM IST: Play Resumes
Pat Cummins to resume proceedings. Abdullah Shafique, on 45, will take the strike. Azhar Ali, on 30, is his partner in the middle, and they are already in a 70-run stand.
Before that, the players and match officials gathered for Pakistan's national anthem. Today is Pakistan's 75th Republic Day.
Preview
Increasingly, patience -- a virtue in Test cricket -- will be a key ingredient in the PAK vs AUS Lahore Test. Pakistan batters showed quite a bit of this when they battled against a hot Australian bowling attack for 39 overs on Tuesday and ended Day 2 at 90 for one.
The Pakistan top order has enough stars who can hold the fort. Overnight batters, Azhar Ali (batting 30) and the in-form Abdullah Shafique (45 not out) have produced 70 runs at 2.6 per over and will need to continue this way to keep frustrating the Australian attack.
The Lahore wicket has so far aided the fast bowlers. Aussie skipper Pat Cummins has taken the only Pakistan wicket to fall and earlier in the day, recalled 19-year-old fast-bowler Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi shared eight wickets as Pakistan took Australia’s last five wickets for 50 runs.
Sedate half-centuries by Cameron Green and Alex Carey earned them Australia’s highest sixth-wicket stand in Pakistan, worth 135. But they were broken up after lunch and Australia were all out for 391 on the stroke of tea.
