Australia’s captain Steven Smith beat encroaching bad weather by a matter of minutes to post his 17th Test hundred as the hosts forged into a first-innings lead over Pakistan on day four of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Moments after Smith reached his 100, the umpires suspended play, a decision followed soon after by a deluge that was more tropical Brisbane than Melbourne’s more typical southerly climate.
Smith’s ease at the crease contrasted with two more low scores for Nic Maddinson and Matthew Wade, neither of whom can be sure of their places in the XI, and made life difficult for the visitors who were also inconvenienced when Azhar Ali was helped from the field after suffering a stunning blow to the helmet when fielding at short leg.
Full report to follow
Australia 4 for 395 (Smith 61*, Maddinson 7*) trail Pakistan 9 for 443 dec by 48 runs
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01:19
Coverdale: Handscomb has shown he is comfortable at Test level
Usman Khawaja fell three runs short of a century for the second time this summer but Australia’s captain Steven Smith and the emerging No. 5 Peter Handscomb took the hosts to within sight of Pakistan’s first innings on the fourth morning of the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
The threat of rain remains present in Melbourne, but the morning session at last was untouched by it. Whether either side is inclined to creativity to set-up a final-day run chase is another matter.
As he had done in the Perth Test against South Africa, Khawaja made it to 97 before being dismissed, this time trying to cover drive Wahab Riaz and edging through to Sarfraz Ahmed. He had shelved the stroke when making an excellent century against South Africa under lights in Adelaide.
That wicket brought the Victorian Handscomb to the crease on his home ground, and he showed plenty of attacking intent to outpace Smith and close the gap with the visitors’ total. On a pitch offering precious little to the bowlers, Pakistan reverted largely to a short-pitched angle of attack with a leg-side field.
Neither Handscomb nor Smith had too many awkward moments before the second new ball was taken, the former passing 50 for the third time in as many Tests. However in Mohammad Amir’s first over with the fresh projectile, Handscomb was beaten by one delivery then, next ball, pushed a difficult return catch back to the bowler, who dropped it.
While Amir continued to bowl well, it was Sohail Khan who claimed the wicket, when Handscomb sliced an attempted drive to backward point. Nic Maddinson accompanied Smith to lunch.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo