Lyon guides Australia to big lead over Pakistan
Perth, (Australia) Dec.
16: Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith dug in to stretch Australia’s lead and take the first Test away from Pakistan Saturday, as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon moved within one wicket of the 500-mark.
The hosts reached stumps on day three in Perth at 84 for 2, building their lead to 300 after bowling out the visitors on the cusp of tea for 271 in reply to their first innings 487. Veteran spinner Lyon was the best of the bowlers with 3/66, but he was made to wait to reach a milestone that will put him in elite company alongside just seven other players.
At the close, Khawaja was on 34 and Smith 43 as Pakistan’s hopes of a first Test win in Australia since 1995 faded.
“A 300 lead now and we’ve got Travis (Head) and Mitch (Marsh) coming in next and things can tick along pretty quickly with those two,” said
Australian pacer Josh
Hazlewood.
“For me, probably the general idea would be halfway through the day tomorrow (to declare), could be earlier or later but that will be the rough guide,” he added.
The home side had a shaky start with first innings century-maker David Warner out for a duck. The 37-year-old, fresh from his defiant 164, mis-timed a pull shot from Khurram Shahzad and lobbed to Imam-ul-haq at mid-wicket.
Marnus Labuschagne also surrendered cheaply on a pitch offering uneven bounce, out for two with Shahzad again the tormentor, tempting a big edge taken by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed. He took a nasty blow to the hand shortly beforehand and was due to have a scan. It left Australia tottering at 2/5.
But Khawaja and Smith steadied the ship with an unbeaten 79-run partnership heading into day four.
Pakistan resumed on 132 for 2, but they were no match for Australia’s topclass attack.
“Getting used to the pace and bounce of this wicket was a little bit hard,” said Pakistan batting coach Adam Holli-oake.
Stoic opener Haq began on 38 and nightwatchman Shahzad on 7. Shahzad lasted just two balls before Cummins took out his middle stump in the first over.
That brought Babar Azam to the crease in his 50th Test, tentatively facing 13 balls before getting off the mark with a cover drive to the ropes off Cummins.