Thanks to career best knock by Marnus Labuschange career best score, Australia are 7 wickets away from a win on the 3rd day of the first Test match played at Gabba, Brisbane on Saturday.
Starting on the overnight score of 312 for 1, Marnus Labuschagne started in a positive fashion taking on the Pakistani bowlers. Naseem Shah got the breakthrough for Pakistan dismissing Warner with a beauty of a delivery which was well caught by Mohammad Rizwan. Warner and Labuschagne added 129 runs for the 2nd wicket. The world number 1 batsman Steve Smith had a rare failure to be dismissed by Smith for just 4. Labuschagne scored his maiden Test ton off 161 balls. Australia went into lunch at 395 for 3.
After the lunch break, Pakistan went into defensive mindset not bowling their front-line bowlers. Matthew Wade and Labuschagne took advantage with aggressive stroke play. Wade played sweeps and attacked with big shots to reach his fifty off 79 balls. The part timer Haris Sohail dismissed Wade with for 60 as Mohammad Rizwan took a good catch. Wade and Labuschagne added 110 runs for the 4th wicket. Travis Head came to the crease and looked positive with his intent. Labuschagne continued his merry way and reached his 150 off 233 balls. Haris Sohail struck again by dismissing Head with a good catch down the leg. Head and Labuschagne added 38 runs for the 5th wicket. Australia went into tea break at 532 for 5.
In the third session, Pakistani bowlers kept a tight line and length. Shaheen Shah Afridi got the wicket of Tim Paine for 13. Labuschagne played a loose stroke and was dismissed for a brilliant 185. Pakistan finally bowled out Australia for 580 runs. Yasir Shah took 4 for 205, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Sohail took 2 wickets each.
It was a superb start for the Australian team as Mitchell Starc provided an early breakthrough dismissing Pakistani captain Azhar Ali cheaply. Starc dismissed Haris Sohail again for the 2nd time in the match. Shan Masood looked confident with his stroke play. The star of first innings, Asad Shafiq was dismissed for 0 by Pat Cummins. Babar Azam and Shan Masood looked confident with their stroke play and put on unbeaten 39 runs for the 4th wicket. Pakistan ended day 3 at 64 for 3 and still trail by 276 runs.
Pakistan 240 in 86.2 overs ( Asad Shafiq 76, Azhar Ali 39, Mitchell Starc 4/52, Pat Cummins 3/60) and 64 for 3 in 17 overs ( Shan Masood 27*, Babar Azam 20*, Mitchell Starc 2/25) trail Australia 580 in 157.4 overs ( Labuschagne 185, David Warner 154, Joe Burns 97, Labuschagne , Yasir Shah 4/205, Haris Sohail 2/75 ) by 276 runs.
