Pakistan 315 (Younis 175*, Azhar 71, Hazlewood 4-55) and 5 for 128 (Shafiq 23*, Misbah 18*) need another 337 runs to beat Australia 8 for 538 dec and 2 for 241 dec
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Josh Hazlewood struck in the first over of the final day © Getty Images
Australia need five wickets to complete a clean sweep of Pakistan after their bowlers worked steadily through the visitors’ batting order on the final morning of the SCG Test.
Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq were left in stern occupation after four wickets fell before lunch, with Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe all striking. Pakistan managed 73 runs in an extended morning session at only 1.97 per over.
Hazlewood struck in the first over of the day, accepting a return catch from Azhar Ali, and followed up by claiming Babar Azam lbw for the second time in the match.
Lyon’s teasing spell to Younis Khan was rewarded when the batsman lost patience and skied an attempt to hit over the top. A leading edge was accepted comfortably by Hazlewood at mid-on. Younis finished the Test on 9977 runs.
The nightwatchman Yasir Shah had offered considerable resistance to the Australians, but was defeated by an O’Keefe delivery that turned and bounced enough to catch the edge and was taken low down at second slip by the substitute fielder Jackson Bird.
Misbah did not look at ease at any stage of his innings, but found a way to survive to the interval in the company of the more proactive Shafiq.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo