Pak Vs Aus 1st Test, Day 3: Australia bounced back in an emphatic fashion on Day 3 after Pakistan had finished Day 2 on a good note as Lyon and Co. led the charge in bowling by taking down Pakistan from 133/2, to bundle them out for 271. Imam-ul-Haq was the highest scorer for Pakistan as they had no answer to the fierce bowling from the Australians.
Soon after nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad got out in the first session of Day 3, Babar and Imam looked good until an excellent ball from Mitchell Marsh got rid of the former Pakistan captain, Babar Azam. Pakistan never established stability after the fall of his wicket as wickets tumbled down with Lyon getting rid of Imam-ul-Haq next and the Aussies managed to see off the challenge from the Pakistan batters and bowling them out for 271.
The conditions never seemed batting friendly on Day 3 as there were elemets of swing & seam, and turn as well. Australia, at the start of their second innings, met the similar fate as David Warner got out without troubling the scorers this time as Khurram Shahzad managed to get him out for a duck, and soon after his departure followed a brilliant short spell of impeccable bowling from Pakistan. Marnus Labuschagne too, couldn’t do much as Australia met an early setback with them reeling at 5/2 in 7.2 overs.
Steve Smith arrived in a crunch situation and with Usman Khawaja, he managed to establish stability and guided Australia to 84/2 at the end of Day 3 and with a lead of 300 runs. It puts Australia in driver’s seat in the first Test as no team has ever won the Test match in the Perth Stadium when bowling first. Also, putting up a huge total will give Australian bowlers a cushion of comfort to bowl with.
Pakistan, who are currently number 1 in the World Test Championship Standings, will be under immense pressure of getting a result out of this match and any points dropped will be a boosting factor for the other nations to pounce upon. Day 4 of the first Test between Australia and Pakistan starts tomorrow (December 17).
