Australia wrest back initiative after Pakistan dominance – Hazelwood bamboozles Pakistanis – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor)
Australia v Pakistan 2023-24 | Third Test | Day 3
Josh Hazelwood led an Australian rout of a hapless Pakistan as a deteriorating SCG surface saw the visitors collapse dramatically to put Australia in command for a series sweep.
In a game where fortunes fluctuated wildly, Australia handled the conditions better to win an epic arm wrestle.
Butter fingered Pakistan let Australia off the hook as they continued to squander any chance of a consolation win on tour.
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With a day lost to rain, overnight batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith appeared to be in control taking the score to 187 for 2 wickets before Pakistan struck quick blows to remove both of them.
At 187 for 4, Ayub Saim at mid-off then dropped another important sitter with Mitchell Marsh on 7 compounding his earlier lapse at slip when he dropped David Warner on 20. Marsh used his life to complete another half century enjoying his comeback to Test cricket.
Pakistan’s attack continued undettered, with batting hero Aamir Jamal capping off a fine allround performance wrecking the middle and lower order to return fantastic figures of 6 for 69.
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The wicket at the SCG is deteriorating rapidly suggesting an unpredictable course ahead as the quicks revel in the uneven bounce and swing.
The slower and lower trajectory has made it much more comfortable for the batters but the uncertain turn and swing off the pock marked surface was testing their reflexes.
Pakistan took the points in the first innings by bowling Australia out for 299 giving them a 14 run lead.
Mitchell Stark and Josh Hazelwood then struck telling blows to have Pakistan stumbling once more like they did in the first innings.
Abdullah Shafique and skipper Shan Masood departed for ducks and at 2 for 4 Ayub Saim and Barbar Azam dug in to avert another disaster which the bowlers saved them from in the first innings.
But the defiance was short lived, as Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazelwood and Travis Head stuck successive blows to swing the scales back in Australia’s favour once more giving them ascendency in a game that couldhavegoneeitherway.
Hazelwood was almost unplayable as he prised out any chance of Pakistan building a match winning lead. He ended the day with 4 for 9 off 10 overs leaving Pakistan just 82 runs ahead at the close with only 3 wickets remaining.
There will definitely be a result early tomorrow despite a day lost.
Will there be another twist in the tail will be revealed on a surface renowned for its unpredictability.
Australia v Pakistan 2023-24 | Third Test | Day 2
Australia v Pakistan 2023-24 | Third Test | Day 1
