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Summary
Shane Watson and Michael Clarke put Australia on course for victory in the first Test after thwarting Pakistan's comeback hopes. An unbeaten stand-off 71 for the fourth wicket moved the hosts into a lead of 307 by stumps on day three in Melbourne after Pakistan had threatened to claw their way back into the game. Despite having been dismissed for 258, Pakistan struck back as Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey all fell cheaply. Mohammad Asif got the early breakthrough as he removed Katich for two, with wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal taking an athletic two-handed catch. Ponting followed for 12 with the Aussie captain caught by Salman Butt at deep square leg off Mohammad Aamer. And Pakistan's 17-year-old paceman then removed Hussey nine balls later, with the Australian batsman unsuccessfully referring the leg before decision. But having been rocked at 40-3, Watson and Clarke combined to put Australia in a commanding position with two days remaining. Watson recorded his seventh half-century in 12 innings this year, finishing on 64 not out as he looks reach his maiden Test century. Clarke was more watchful as his unbeaten 21 came off 65 balls. Earlier half-centuries from Misbah-ul-Haq and Umar Akmal had helped Pakistan stay in touch. Misbah-ul-Haq provided the backbone to Pakistan's 258 as he remained unbeaten on 65 - a knock that included eight boundaries and a huge six off Nathan Hauritz. Umar Akmal smashed seven boundaries and a six before he departed for 51, edging Mitchell Johnson to Ponting at second slip. However it took the arrival of the new ball to rip the heart out of the tourists' innings - with Doug Bollinger snaring three wickets in four overs. With just his third delivery with the new ball, Bollinger had nightwatchman Aamer caught by Marcus North, while Kamran Akmal (12) followed when he edged behind. North also caught Abdur Rauf off Bollinger as Pakistan slumped from 159-5 to 219-8. And although Misbah-ul-Haq frustrated the hosts, Johnson and Peter Siddle mopped up the tail. Siddle had Asif caught by Watson for a duck, while Johnson bowled Saeed Ajmal.
