Pakistan take 'rare' lead in third Test against Australia
Cricket
Travis Head and in-form Mitchell Marsh survived a tricky 20-minute period before lunch
(Web Desk) – Pakistan dismissed Australia for 299 runs in their first innings and took a 14-run lead in the third Test at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday thanks to Aamer Jamal’s heroic bowling feat.
Aamer took six wickets conceding 69 runs after Australia seemed to take lead.
THE TEA
At tea, Australia were 289 for 6.
In-form Mitchell Marsh once again capitalised on ragged Pakistan fielding as Australia inched towards a valuable first-innings lead in a see-saw third Test at the SCG.
Marsh scored his fourth half-century in five innings and combined with Alex Carey in a partnership of 84 for the sixth wicket to give Australia the edge. But Carey was bowled by offspinner Sajid Khan for 38 on the stroke of tea in a much-needed wicket for Pakistan.
Pakistan could be in a favourable position, but Marsh was given a life on 7 by debutant Saim Ayub, who dropped a chance at mid-off after diving forward off the bowling of Salman Agha. It's been a tough initiation into Test cricket for Ayub, who earlier in the innings had spilled retiring opener David Warner in a sitter at first slip after making a second-ball duck in Pakistan's first innings.
On day three of the Boxing Day Test, Marsh was given a life on 20 when Abdullah Shafique dropped a sitter at first slip in what proved a significant moment. Marsh made Pakistan pay with 90 and he is on track to do something similar in an innings where he mixed firm defence with cavalier strokeplay.
Australia will be eying a handy lead on an SCG surface that is expected to deteriorate as the match wears on with the expanding rough patches set to be particularly helpful for spin.
The contest had edged towards Pakistan when Australia fell to 205 for 5 shortly into the second session. No. 5 Travis Head, normally aggressive, played within himself during a tricky 20-minute period before lunch and scored just six runs off 25 balls. Head could never get going and he was given out lbw shortly after the interval when he was trapped on the front pad by quick Aamer Jamal in a decision upheld by the DRS.
Pakistan resisted taking the second new ball as Salman tried to lure Marsh into playing a rash stroke. But a patient Marsh picked off rare loose deliveries to continue his rich vein of form since a memorable ton in his Test comeback during the Ashes at Headingley.
Earlier, Australia batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith overcame a short-ball barrage before falling late in the first session on the third day as Pakistan mounted a fightback in the third Test.
Labuschagne and Smith had combined for a 79-run third-wicket partnership and appeared set to bat through to lunch. Having defied Pakistan's hostile assault, Smith was dismissed on 38 after he chipped left-arm quick Mir Hamza to cover after a change of tactics had placed more fielders on the off-side.
In the next over, off-spinning all-rounder Agha Salman cleaned up Labuschagne for 60 with a spectacular delivery that spun sharply off the rough.
Travis Head and in-form Mitchell Marsh survived a tricky 20-minute period before lunch with the match evenly poised. Australia will be eying a lead on a SCG surface that is expected to deteriorate as the match wears on with the expanding rough patches set to be particularly helpful for spin.
Retiring opener David Warner and Usman Khawaja were the only wickets to fall on a shortened day two reduced to only 46 overs due to bad light and rain.
Resuming at 116 for 2, Australia made slow progress against disciplined bowling from Hamza and veteran seamer Hasan Ali. Much like on a shortened day two, it was an attritional contest with Hasan and Hamza concentrating on bowling a nagging line outside off stump as they produced five consecutive maidens.
Smith was in danger of being worked over by Hamza with one delivery seaming back wickedly and almost hitting his off stump. But he broke the shackles with a gorgeous cover drive as Smith and Labuschagne then took a liking to specialist spinner Sajid Khan, who had minimal impact, as runs started to flow.
Quick Aamer Jamal sought a short-ball approach as he continued from his plan against the batters before play had stopped on day two. With the slips taken out and a slew of fielders on the leg-side, Jamal bent his back and bowled a lively spell but was thwarted.
Smith, who has struggled for some time against short-pitched bowling, did have a narrow escape when he almost hit to short midwicket.
Looking to shrug off a lean 2023, where he averaged 35 in Test cricket, Labuschagne was patient but assured and reached his half-century with a superb pull shot as he dealt with Hasan's modest pace with ease.
There was a delay for several minutes after Smith complained about a small piece of rolled-up black tape that was on the white canopy behind the sightscreen.
Once a groundsman cleared the object, a more content Smith used his feet to club Salman down the ground in a rare sign of aggression.
Pakistan reverted their tactics when Hamza re-entered the attack and the change of plan worked when Smith hit straight to cover and he looked in disbelief at the pitch before trudging off.
There was much anticipation over Hamza reprising his battle with Head having clean bowled him during the Boxing Day Test with a stunning in-swinging full delivery. He tried to replicate that ball, but was thwarted this time by Head as Hamza took a tumble in his follow through.
Having dismissed Warner with a sharp delivery that had bite and turn, Salman was surprisingly held back on day three but made an impact with the wicket of Labuschagne as the match hung in the balance.
The third day of the traditional New Year's Test is dedicated to Glenn McGrath's late wife, Jane, who died of breast cancer in 2008. - Courtesy ESPNcricinfo
