The well-positioned wickets Australia’s progress was hindered by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith on the third morning of the SCG Test. The hosts went to lunch at 199/4, still 114 behind Pakistan’s first innings score.
Play resumed 30 minutes early on Day 3 under a light cloud cover, having lost nearly a whole session due to poor light and rain yesterday. Although they were disciplined the entire time, the Pakistani bowlers should also be commended for their lack of progress. After the first over, the pacers even sent down a five-over spell of maidens upfront, and they continued to put pressure on the overnight hitters. A flurry of short balls ensued, but with little success.
To their credit, after joining forces around stumps yesterday, Labuschagne and Smith performed admirably in rebuilding. Runs started to come quickly after the cautious beginning. With a poorly placed pluck off Aamer Jamal that was almost caught by short-midwicket, Smith lifted the fifty of the stand. Just before refreshments, Pakistan also threw away a review on Labuschagne, with an inside edge rescuing the batsman on 45. After the interval, he elevated himself to a half-century with an incredible pull shot against Hasan Ali.
Australia lost Smith against the run of play when Mir Hamza used a full ball to entice him into an overhead drive. Smith left after a valiant 38, and Babar Azam broke the 99-run stand by timing his jump to secure the overhead catch. Salman Agha hit a crisp one that rattled Labuschagne’s stumps and went through the bat-pad gap in the very next over. In the course of just six deliveries, Australia fell to 187/4 and lost both of their set batsmen.
Without taking any chances, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh saw through the final five overs before lunch.
