Srinagar: Pakistan were pretty much in command until pacer Josh Hazlewood magical over put hosts Australia in command of the third and final Test in Sydney.
Having got Australia out for 299 just after Tea, Pakistan’s hopes of converting their slender 14-run lead into a significant one was thwarted twice inside two hours.
First, when the Australian new-ball pair struck in their respective opening overs and then with Hazlewood’s triple-wicket over in the closing minutes of play.
Mitchell Starc got Australia the perfect start with the ball, handing Abdullah Shafique a pair with an absolute peach that jagged back in sharply to sneak through the bat-pad gap and make a mess of his stumps. A ball later, Pakistan skipper Shan Masood paid the price of attempting yet another loose shot outside off as he nicked behind to the keeper.
To their credit, Pakistan consolidated well and at a quite a decent pace through the 57-run partnership between Saim Ayub and Babar Azam.
Lyon trapped Ayub plumb in front on 33 to open the floodgates. The Pakistan opener reviewed, only to be disappointed. Soon after, Travis Head lured Babar into a cover drive, inducing an outside edge that was gobbled up safely behind.
Then came in Hazlewood for a final dash before stumps and his triple-wicket maiden put Australia firmly in the driver’s seat.
A lazy drive away from he body was the end of Saud Shakeel’s stay in the middle as Hazlewood struck on the first delivery upon return. The nightwatch lasted all of one ball before being bowled through the gap, and Salman Agha nicked his second ball to first slip. At stumps, Pakistan were ahead by only 82 and Australia were sniffing a series whitewash.
