Pakistan faced a challenging situation at 68-7, as Josh Hazlewood’s remarkable three-wicket maiden over in the closing stages of the day added to their woes.
Earlier in the day, Aamir Jamal’s outstanding performance with six wickets had propelled Pakistan to a narrow 14-run lead.
The second innings for Pakistan commenced on a disastrous note, with Abdullah Shafique and Captain Shan Masood both departing for ducks. Mitchell Starc’s delivery proved too much for Abdullah, as it swung back fiercely to dismantle the stumps, while Hazlewood’s outside-off-stump delivery saw Shan caught by wicket-keeper Alex Carey.
A brief respite came from debutant Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, who constructed a 56-run partnership for the third wicket. Saim showcased his positivity with attacking strokes, including an impressive upper-cut off Starc for a maximum.
However, the partnership was broken when Saim fell victim to Nathan Lyon, dismissed lbw for 33. Babar followed suit shortly after, unable to counter Travis Head’s bowling and departing for 23.
The downward spiral continued for Pakistan as Hazlewood scalped Saud Shakeel, nightwatchman Sajid Khan, and Salman Ali Agha in quick succession. Saud managed only two runs, while Sajid and Salman failed to trouble the scorers.
Earlier in the day, Aamir’s right-arm pace rattled Australia, causing a collapse from 289-5 to 299 all out. With an impressive 6-69, Aamir, who had already picked up a six-wicket haul on Test debut, played a pivotal role in restricting Australia. He dismissed Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, and Hazlewood to wrap up the innings.
Aamir’s wicket tally for the series now stands at an impressive 18, making him the joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Cummins from either side.
Australia struggled in the morning session, trudging to 199-4 in 80 overs. Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne fell victim to Mir Hamza and Salman, respectively. The day concluded with Pakistan holding an 82-run lead with seven wickets down.
As the action-packed SCG Test heads into day four, the focus will be on Mohammad Rizwan and Aamir as they resume Pakistan’s batting, aiming to extend their lead in the game. The match promises further excitement and drama, with both teams vying for supremacy in this intense battle.
