Tea Australia 429 and 2 for 40 (Khawaja 13*, Smith 8*) lead Pakistan 142 (Sarfraz 59*, Hazlewood 3-22, Bird 3-23, Starc 3-63) by 327 runs
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Sarfraz Ahmed was the only Pakistan batsman to make more than Sami Aslam’s 22 © Getty Images
An impish rearguard by Sarfraz Ahmed helped Pakistan add 75 for their last two wickets and dissuaded Australia’s captain Steven Smith from enforcing the follow-on in hot conditions in Brisbane.
Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird and Mitchell Starc took three wickets apiece to secure a 287-run lead, before Australia lost openers David Warner and Matt Renshaw in the early search for quick runs. The hosts led by 327 at the tea break.
Warner started in aggressive fashion but he was undone when trying to pull a delivery from Mohammad Amir that was not short enough for the stroke, succeeding only in shovelling the ball to mid-on. Renshaw was turned around by a beautiful late outswinger from Rahat Ali, edging to the slips.
The third day had begun with Sarfraz and Amir facing an enormous task simply to prolong Pakistan’s innings, let alone avoid the follow-on. With a combination of quick singles and the occasional boundary they were able to take their ninth-wicket stand beyond 50 while compelling Smith to call upon Nathan Lyon and Bird after trying Starc and Hazlewood.
It was Bird who eventually broke through, finding the thinnest of inside edges on Amir’s bat that was revealed by HotSpot and Realtime Snicko after the not-out decision was reviewed. Amir was visibly annoyed, perhaps because the ball also appeared to brush his elbow after touching the bat.
Sarfraz went on to 59 in the company of Rahat, cutting back Australia’s lead slightly but more pointedly ensuring Smith did not risk ask Pakistan to bat again. Sarfarz’s array of shots included slog sweeping Bird, leading to one dropped catch by Nic Maddinson at deep-backward square leg, before the innings concluded when Warner ran out Rahat by the width of a shadow over the crease.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo