The wickets of well-set Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith dented Australia's progress on the third morning in the SCG Test as the hosts went to Lunch at 199/4, still trailing Pakistan's first innings score by 114.
DAY 3 - LUNCH
Pakistan keep Australia in check with crucial strikes
Agha Salman picked up two wickets in total © Getty
After losing close to a session and a half to bad light and rain yesterday, play resumed half an hour early on Day 3 under a bit of a cloud cover. The Pakistan bowlers were disciplined throughout, but also unfortunate to not break through sooner. The pacers even sent down a five-over spell of maidens upfront, after the opening over, and kept coming hard at the overnight batters. Then came a barrage of short balls, but without much success.
To their credit, Labuschagne and Smith did well to rebuild after joining hands close to stumps yesterday. Runs began to flow soon after the watchful start. Smith raised the fifty of the stand with a mistimed pull off Aamer Jamal that was nearly caught by short-midwicket. Pakistan also wasted a review on Labuschagne shortly before drinks, with an inside edge saving the batter on 45. He went on to raise a half-century with a superb pull shot off Hasan Ali on the other side of the break.
Against the run of play, Australia lost Smith as Mir Hamza lured him into an aerial drive with a full ball. The 99-run stand was broken with Babar Azam timing his jump perfectly to grab the overhead catch as Smith departed after a hard-fought 38. In the very next over, Salman Agha got one to turn in sharply, go through the bat-pad gap and rattle Labuschagne's stumps. Australia slipped to 187/4 in the space of just six deliveries, losing both set batters.
Travis Head and Mitch Marsh saw through the five remaining overs before lunch without taking any chances.
Brief scores: Australia 199/4 (Marnus Labuschagne 60, Steve Smith 38; Salman Agha 2-27) trail Pakistan by 114 runs
© Cricbuzz
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