Australia cut their first innings deficit to only 24, but Mitch Marsh made Pakistan pay a heavy price for an early reprieve by scoring his fourth fifty of the series in an 84-run stand with Alex Carey. Day 3 saw Australia win the session, but it was marred by two crucial wickets, as Sajid Khan broke the crucial partnership at the break of day.
Batting at number seven, Marsh lost wicket early in the afternoon session when, despite a forward dive, Pakistani rookie Saim Ayub ruined a chance at mid-off. Marsh proceeded to score 43 more runs during the session, culminating in an undefeated innings that has placed the hosts in a commanding lead going into the first innings.
Pakistan summoned in Aamer Jamal for a last over with the old ball shortly after the drop, and the bowler made a delivery in his second over, trapping Travis Head leg before wicket on 10. The Australian looked over, but it didn’t help. After the new ball was made available, the visitors held off against it for over 11 overs with a wicket in hand before eventually caving in as their lead dwindled to double digits.
Hasan Ali, who was sharing the new ball with Mir Hamza, almost got Pakistan’s second wicket of the session, but Marsh quickly contested the LBW decision because he knew the ball would have over the stumps. Using a textbook cover drive, he lifted the fifty of his fast partnership with Carey in the next over.
Marsh got a thick top-edge on his attempted pull, but he had better luck as he achieved his fourth half-century in five innings. Carey became the third Australian batsman this innings to be dismissed in thirty seconds when Sajid sent him through the gap against the flow of play.