A battling century from Younis Khan and loss of overs to rain had Pakistan eyeing a draw, but Australia finished Day 3 of the SCG Test in the driver’s seat. Follow all the action of the fourth day’s play on The Roar from 10am (AEDT).
Rain ruined nearly half of the day’s play in Sydney, but the remaining time was enough to see Younis and Nathan Lyon come to the party for their respective teams.
Younis became the first cricketer in the history of the game to score a century in each of the Test-playing countries – if we include the UK and West Indies as one – when he notched up the 34th ton of his career.
It was a fine blend of attack and defence, a knock that was typically Younis Khan, especially when in full flow, and one which has likely extended his career after he scored just one fifty in the final eight innings of 2016.
Pakistan however, probably should have ended the day in a much better position, especially when the in-form Azhar Ali had the side in a position of strength with his third-wicket stand of 146 with Younis.
The pair had issues with their running between the wickets on the second day as well, but survived David Warner’s fielding misses. They were not so lucky on Day 3, as Mitchell Starc and Peter Handscomb combined well to run Azhar out.
From there on, none of the other batsmen afforded Younis the support he needed.
Captain Misbah-ul-Haq played a shot he would like to forget in a hurry, Asad Shafiq was brilliantly caught by Steven Smith off Steve O’Keefe, and then Sarfaraz Ahmed nicked one to the gully off Mitchell Starc to reduce Pakistan to six wickets down.
Younis was still at the crease when Lyon bagged a couple more wickets, lower-order batsmen Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz.
Rain is predicted for the fourth day but armed with a good lead, Australia will look to quickly bat again and gain another 200-odd runs.
With the pitch becoming tougher as the game has worn on, Pakistan will need to bat out of their skins to then save themselves from the ignominy of a 3-0 whitewash.
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Guest
Congratulations Warner for your quick 50 and also Younis Khan brilliant not out 175, but Can Pakistan avoid whitewash ?
Brendon the 1st
Guest
What is the big bash?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Definitely slower than Lyon, turns it less. I was curious to do a direct comparison between the two, SOK also bowled noticeably slower to the tail ender than to the top order batsman. From what I can tell: - SOK is slower - Lyon gets more drop (more energy on the ball) - Lyon gets more bounce (ditto) - Lyon spins it more - SOK is more accurate - SOK drifts it sideways more
jameswm
Roar Guru
Now Lyon, to Azhar 1. decent, outside off, inside edge close to stumps, was at least a foot outside off (92.1) 2. a bit fuller, outside off, blocked (90.6) 3. better length, blocked outside off (89.3) 4. nice loop on that one, blocked to leg (89.9) 5. too full, pushed wide of mid on for a single, now a shot at Yasir (91.7) 6. not too bad, a bit too full, blocked comfortably (89.9)
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Pakistan have done well to lose just a wicket going into stumps. But they will need to survive 98 overs on the last day with no rain expected to bail them out. Australia were able to set up a good declaration thanks to some excellent hitting from Warner and Smith and are in the driver's seat to make it 3-0. Can the likes of Azhar, Younis and even captain Misbah bat the day out? Going after the target looks as distant as the moon. That's that from me. Good evening.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four dots and a single off the fifth for Azhar before Yasir defends the final ball of the day to finish it at 1/55 in 16.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lack of turn bit of a worry. Secondly, that third delivery was a quicker one after he had floated the first two up but I think it could be slightly quicker to try and beat the batsman's inside edge.
jameswm
Roar Guru
SOK's 2nd over. To Yasir now after maiden to Azhar. 1. a bit outside off, slower, turned a bit lobbed between two fieldsmen, Waqar not impressed with the shot (77.9) 2. flighting, a bit too full (78.7) 3. a bit too full again, nice flight (81) 4. more like his first over, landing and hitting straight, blocked (78) 5. good flight, a bit too full (77.6) 6. a bit flatter, on the pegs again (85.4) Noticeably slower to the lesser batsman, could have got a wicket.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lyon has replaced Starc and will bowl the last over of the day.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Wow, night watchman Yasir has slapped one through the covers for a couple... ...well-bowled by O'Keefe, who tossed it up a tad and invited that stroke. Does it again, gives it a lot of air and Yasir pushes the second and the third balls before defending the next one off the front foot. Then pushes the fifth to mid-on before defending the last ball. Two of the over. 1/54 in 15
jameswm
Roar Guru
SOK's first over. 1. good length, drifted a bit down leg (83.3) 2. nice flight and length, drags him forward for a block (81.9) 3. same again, slightly straighter, inside edge (85.6) 4. Azhar comes down the wicket, doesn't get to the pitch, thick inside edge to midwicketinside (83.8) 5. pitches off, would hit middle, forward defence and thickish inside edge again (84.3) 6. slightly more effort, slightly fuller, driven gently to mid on (84.5) Length perfect, nice flight, not a lot of turn, nice flight, always probing.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single from Starc's first over of this second spell as Yasir gets off strike. But he finishes off the over with a bouncer which means Yasir will take strike first up next over. 1/52 in 14
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Lyon's taken a wicket and he's out of the attack. In comes Mitchell Starc for an over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Maiden from O'Keefe first up at Azhar. 1/51 in 13. Three more overs remain.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Night watchman, Yasir Shah had a good stint with the bat earlier today. He walks out at three and Steve O'Keefe has the ball. Thought I spotted bit of a weakness that Yasir has against the delivery that goes on without turning too much from the left-handed spinner.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone! Sharjeel's fireworks are over... ...it looked good for the time he was there but should have built on from there. What Sharjeel tried to do there was to hit Lyon over the leg-side against the turn. Lyon had tossed that up a tad and the batsman ends up mis-hitting it to mid-wicket where Warner jumps up to take the catch. One down.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Two different shots to earn Sharjeel six runs. Lofts Lyon with the turn, inside out over covers for a four before rocking back and cutting backward of point for another couple.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Two from the Hazlewood over. Yasir Shah looks like he might come out as the night watchman if a wicket falls. 0/45 in 11
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It's Sharjeel again. Pats out two deliveries but off the last ball he cuts an away-turning ball through point for a four. 0/43 in 10, of which Sharjeel has made 34 off 32.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Sharjeel continues to entertain with a one-legged stroke through the leg-side for a couple but Hazlewood as a prompt response. He dishes out a bouncer that Sharjeel has a tough time negotiating, gets beaten by the pace. 0/38 in 9