A final-session Pakistan batting collapse has put Australia in an imposing position heading into the penultimate day of the deciding Lahore Test match, with a 134-run lead on the board and openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner at the crease.
Pakistan entered Day 3 at 1-for-90 with Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali at the crease, who managed to see out the opening session of the day to pour on a 150-run partnership. Pakistan looked steady and methodical in their approach and Australia were under pressure to break another strong partnership. It was Nathan Lyon who finally claimed the crucial wicket of Shafique for 81, drawing a faint knick that ended up in the gloves of Alex Carey. Umpire Aleem Dar adjudicated it as not out but a late call to review it proved a genius move on Pat Cummins’ part as Australia found their breakthrough.
With Karachi hero Babar Azam now alongside him, Azhar Ali motored towards the 80s before Cummins took a superb catch off his own bowling to dismiss the veteran for 78. Fawad Alam added just 13 before his stumps were cleaned up by a Mitchell Starc peach. Karachi centurion Mohammad Rizwan also succumbed to a Starc gem, reaching just one. Cummins then claimed a trio of wickets within eight balls to wrestle momentum well and truly in Australia’s favour. Starc dismissed Babar leg-before for 67 and then bowled Naseem Shah for a duck to end the Pakistani innings. After starting their innings 2-for-170, Pakistan lost their final eight wickets for just 98 runs, with their final four wickets lost for zero.
Cummins finished with figures of 5-for-56 – the eight five-wicket haul of his Test career – and Starc had 4-for-33. Australia’s two quicks stepped up mightily when needed and, as a result, are in one of the best positions they have been in this series. Australia got through three overs with the bat and went to stumps at 0-for-11 with Khawaja and Warner at the crease. Australia will be cautious not to leave their declaration too late as some have argued they did in Karachi. Already 134 runs ahead, their focus should be on scoring quickly and building up an unassailable lead before sending Pakistan back in, however, allowing Pakistan to hold on for a draw would be a disappointment.
At this stage, Australia are the favourites to win it but a draw could certainly be on the cards. It would take a mammoth bowling effort from Pakistan to rein in this Australian batting lineup and put themselves in a position to win the Test and, subsequently, the series. The final two days of the series should be action-packed and high-voltage as Australia look to win their first Test series in Pakistan in over two decades.
