Australia 131 for 1 (Warner 77*, Khawaja 39*) trail Pakistan 9 for 443 dec (Azhar 205*, Sohail 65, Shafiq 50, Hazlewood 3-50, Bird 3-113) by 312 runs
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David Warner and Usman Khawaja settled in for Australia after Azhar Ali posted an imperious unbeaten double-century to catapult Pakistan to 9 for 443 declared on the third afternoon of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
While rain has cut significantly into the time left in the match, Pakistan’s aggressive intent pushed the hosts into an increasingly tight corner – reflected when the Australian openers came out to bat.
Renshaw, so far an impressively patient figure at the crease in his three Tests, swung presumptuously at Yasir Shah’s well-flighted delivery and heard his off stump tilt back. Warner and Khawaja started fluently but were left with plenty of work to do in the final session, the Australian vice-captain chasing his first Test hundred since January.
Azhar reached 200 shortly after lunch and finished only three runs short of Viv Richards’ 32-year-old record for the highest score by a visiting batsman in a Test match on this ground. Sohail, included for his bowling potential, took a terrible toll on the tiring Australian attack with the bat. Josh Hazlewood bowled manfully for 3 for 50 from 32.3 precise and persistent overs and got to 100 Test wickets by dismissing the last man to fall before the declaration, Wahab Riaz.
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Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo