An inspirational spell from crowd favourite Doug Bollinger came too late to stop Pakistan claiming a 204-run lead on the first innings on day two in the second Test at the SCG.

But Bollinger bravely predicted Australia’s chances of saving the game were still good.

Pakistan reached 9-331 at stumps on Monday in reply to Australia’s 127.

The tourists lost seven wickets in the final session and 5-54 against the second new ball with Bollinger (3-70), Shane Watson (2-40) and Mitchell Johnson (2-64) leading Australia’s bowling attack.

Danish Kaneria was two not out with Mohammad Asif yet to score.

Openers Imran Farhat (53) and Salman Butt (71) shared a valuable partnership of 109, showing the Australians how to bat for long periods on a difficult wicket.

“We just have to be as patient as they were,” Bollinger said on Monday.

“If we bat for a certain number of overs and get a good total then we will be fine.

“They were two-for at tea (2-190) and it was good to get them nine down at stumps. It was a great fightback and it was good the guys never gave up.”

Peter Siddle claimed Faisal Iqbal (27) at 3-205 when Watson took a brilliant overhead catch on the point boundary.

Pakistan’s hopes of a massive total started to wobble when captain Mohammad Yousuf (46) edged a rising ball from Johnson to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

A fired-up Bollinger took the second new ball and struck in three successive overs.

Crucially, the big left-armer removed the dangerous Umar Akmal lbw for 49. West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove reversed his original not-out decision after Australia called for a video referral.

Bollinger also had Misbah-ul-Haq (11) caught behind and Kamran Akmal (14) holed out to deep point.

Watson removed Umar Gul (12) caught on the boundary and Mohammad Sami (13) as Haddin took his fifth catch of the innings.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Asif took 6-41 on Sunday after Australia captain Ricky Ponting made the controversial decision to bat first on a green-top pitch on a rain-affected opening day.

Bollinger said the Australians, who lead the three-match series 1-0, were backing Ponting “110 per cent” regarding the decision to bat.

“I’ve never seen that much grass on it but it is good for a change and I think it is good for cricket,” Bollinger said.

“It does not bother me now, there is nothing I can do about it.

“We are just worrying about the second innings now. Everyone is really positive.”

Butt said Pakistan would have preferred to be only five wickets down and admitted the tourists had played some “flashy strokes” after tea.

“We could have been a little better off with not too many wickets falling, but then again this pitch is like that,” he said.

“Wickets can come in heaps, three or four together, because the ball seams around. It has been a paradise for seam bowlers.”

SCORE – Australia 127, Pakistan 9-331

MAN OF THE MOMENT – Doug Bollinger. Once again the inspiration for the Australian attack this summer with three quick wickets with the second new ball to stem the damage from Pakistan’s batsmen.

KEY MOMENT – With Australia desperate to make some early inroads on a deck that still had some juice in it, Marcus North dropped Imran Farhat (53) on 11 with the score at 0-24. Australia also missed two run out opportunities in the opening session and Farhat and Salman Butt (71) put on a century opening stand to steer the game firmly in Pakistan’s direction.

STAT OF THE DAY – 2. Number of batsmen to have scored half centuries on the opening two days of the Sydney Test with 19 wickets having fallen.

QUOTE OF THE DAY – “This pitch is not going to change completely, it is not going to become a batter’s paradise.” Pakistan’s topscorer Butt.

SUMMARY – In largely fine conditions, Pakistan backed up their demolition of Australia’s batsmen on the opening day with a solid batting effort. Butt and Farhat put on a 109-run stand to ensure the tourists enjoyed a healthy first-innings advantage. Bollinger claimed three wickets late in the day in a withering spell but Pakistan still hold a telling 200-plus lead.

© AAP 2012

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