Australia build big lead over Pakistan sinking their hope for win

Australia´s Usman Khawaja (L) and teammate Steve Smith walk off at close of play on day three of the first Test cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Perth on December 16, 2023. —AFP

With a 3-66, Lyon was the best bowler of Australia.

By AFP & Web Desk | December 16, 202

PERTH: Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith ostensibly drew the curtain on Pakistan’s hopes of a first Test victory in Australia since 1995 on Saturday, as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon moved within one wicket of the 500-mark.

The hosts reached stumps at 84-2 on day three in Perth, building their lead to 300 after bowling out the visitors on the cusp of tea for 271 in response to their first innings 487.

With a 3-66, Lyon was the best bowler of the bunch, but he will have to wait to accomplish a feat that will place him in the elite club of the game with seven other players.

The home side had a shaky start with first innings century-maker David Warner out for a duck as Pakistan pacer Khurram Shahzad on Saturday took two scalps in quick succession, after Australia began with 216-run lead in Perth.

The 37-year-old, Warner fresh from his defiant 164, mis-timed a pull shot from Khurram Shahzad and lobbed to Imam-ul-Haq for a comfortable catch at mid-wicket.

Marnus Labuschagne also surrendered cheaply on a pitch offering uneven bounce, out for two with Shahzad again the tormentor, tempting a big edge taken by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed. It left Australia tottering at 2-5.

Soon after Khawaja (34) and Smith (43) changed the course of the match to put their team back in the commanding position. They steadied the ship with an unbeaten 79-run partnership heading into day four and a potential declaration.

Chipping away

Pakistan resumed on 132-2 after building a solid foundation in the run chase, but they were no match for Australia´s top-class attack.

Stoic opener Haq began on 38 and nightwatchman Shahzad on seven.

Shahzad, on his debut, lasted just two balls before Pat Cummins took out his middle stump in the first over with a full and straight delivery.

That brought dangerman Babar Azam to the crease in his 50th Test, tentatively facing 13 balls before getting off the mark with a cover drive to the ropes off Cummins.

Biding his time against a seam attack finding bounce and speed on a pitch baked by the sun, he struck another in Cummins´ next over to ensure the scoreboard ticked over.

At the other end, Haq continued chipping away and brought up a ninth Test 50, and his first in Australia, off a glacial 161 balls with a single off Lyon.

But the runs were hard to come by and when Mitchell Marsh was introduced, he immediately made an impact, removing Azam for 21, with the former captain edging to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

It sparked a mini-collapse, with Haq stumped for 62 when Lyon was brought back into the attack, charging down the wicket in a lapse of concentration, with Carey whipping off the bails.

Sarfaraz Ahmed lasted just six balls, having no answer to Mitchell Starc´s swinging delivery that sent the stumps flying.

Australia took the new ball after lunch and Josh Hazlewood produced a quality bouncer that Saud Shakeel tried to fend off but lobbed to Warner at slip.

He departed for 28 and Faheem Ashraf followed for nine, caught low by Khawaja at square leg off Cummins.

Lyon returned to take his 499th wicket, with another stumping from Carey accounting for Aamer Jamal, before Travis Head´s part-time spin took care of Shaheen Shah Afridi.