Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza, the formidable left-arm fast bowling pair, showcased their skillful prowess against the seasoned Australian batting lineup, collectively claiming three wickets each.
This stellar performance not only propelled Pakistan but also placed the opposition in a precarious position. As the day concluded, Australia found themselves at 187-6 on the scoreboard, having earlier dismissed Pakistan for a total of 264 runs.
The day began with Pakistan resuming from their overnight score of 194-6, with Mohammad Rizwan and Aamir Jamal at the crease. The duo exhibited resilience, forming a noteworthy 45-run partnership, which emerged as the second-highest for Pakistan in the innings.
The partnership was broken when Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, struck early on Day Three, sending Rizwan back to the pavilion with a score of 42.
Despite the setback, a crucial 25-run eighth-wicket partnership between Shaheen and Aamir further narrowed the deficit. The momentum, however, shifted when Nathan Lyon trapped Shaheen LBW for 21, leaving Pakistan at 240-8 in the 70th over.
Cummins continued to showcase his prowess by dismissing Hasan Ali, completing his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Mir Hamza, the last batter to fall, was dismissed by Lyon, who secured a total of four wickets. Pakistan’s innings concluded at 264 in 73.5 overs.
In response, Shaheen Shah Afridi made a significant impact with the new ball, creating early disruptions in the Australian batting lineup. He dismissed Usman Khawaja in the very first over, catching him behind, and followed up by claiming Marnus Labuschagne in a similar manner on the last ball of the third over.
Mir Hamza complemented Shaheen’s performance with a double-wicket maiden soon after lunch, reducing Australia to a precarious position of 16-4. David Warner’s stumps were rattled on the first ball of the over, while Travis Head succumbed for a duck on the subsequent delivery.
However, the complexion of the game changed as Steven Smith and Mitchell Marsh joined forces to orchestrate a remarkable recovery for Australia.
The duo exhibited resilience and skill, adding 153 runs to the total, ensuring that Australia remained firmly in the game after the early setbacks.
Hamza managed to break the partnership during the third session of Day Three when Salman Ali Agha caught Marsh, who fell agonizingly short of a century, scoring 96 off 130 balls.
Smith, in the midst of a gritty innings, completed a hard-fought half-century with 50 runs off 176 balls before falling victim to Shaheen’s trap. Smith’s dismissal on the final ball of the day marked a significant moment in the match.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey remained unbeaten at 16, guiding Australia to an end-of-day total of 187-6 in 62.3 overs, holding a lead of 241 runs.
As the action prepares to resume on day four at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground at 0430 PKT, cricket enthusiasts and fans alike eagerly anticipate further twists and turns in this gripping Test match.
