Pakistan recuperate to limit Australia to 232-5 in third Test

Pakistan recovered from dropped catches to limit Australia to 232-5 and deny Usman Khawaja a second consecutive century on Day 1 of the third and remaining take a look at on Monday.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah, the one Pakistan change from the second drawn take a look at at Karachi, picked up 2-36 to steer a fightback within the final session after Australia received the toss and opted to bat on one other sluggish and low-bouncy wicket.

Cameron Green was unbeaten on 20 and Alex Carey was not out on 8 when unhealthy gentle stopped play two overs earlier than the scheduled shut.

The Pakistan-born Khawaja, who scored 160 and 44 not out at Karachi and 97 runs within the opening take a look at draw, fell for 91 when Babar Azam plucked a superb one-handed shin-high catch within the slip.

Stumps! Day 1 for 🇵🇰 #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/p6GF3AuryK

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 21, 2022

Khawaja batted for practically 5-1/2 hours for his resilient 219-ball knock earlier than he tried to flick off-spinner Sajid Khan (1-65) to mid-wicket. But the ball spun away sharply and took the thick exterior fringe of the bat.

Naseem was lastly rewarded for his disciplined bowling when he had Steve Smith (59) trapped leg earlier than wicket and in addition discovered the skin fringe of Travis Head (26).

Amazing stuff from @iNaseemShah! #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Cy5J7r0jMu

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 21, 2022

Smith confronted 169 balls and hit six fours earlier than he was undone by Naseem’s supply, which got here again sharply and hit the batter’s knee in entrance of the stumps.

Head’s below-par sequence continued and regardless of getting a reprieve on 7 when Sajid couldn’t seize a chest-high catch of his personal bowling, he couldn’t final lengthy sufficient.

Khawaja and Smith had revived Australia from the early jolt of Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-39) with a 138-run stand in virtually 4 hours earlier than Pakistan hit again with three late wickets.

Babar, oh Babar!
Phenomenal effort by the skipper and @SajidKhan244 will get the prize. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Nzfye4YxTe

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 21, 2022

Left-arm quick bowler Afridi had picked up two wickets in his second over to chop Australia to 8-2 earlier than Khawaja and Smith thwarted Pakistan.

Khawaja didn’t rating a boundary over the primary hour and in addition survived a pointy probability on 12 when Azam couldn’t get down in time to carry onto an edge within the slip.

Smith additionally had an early escape on 19 when left-arm spinner Nauman Ali couldn’t maintain onto a pointy return catch instantly after Khawaja’s edge slipped underneath Babar’s palms.

Yep, that’s out ☝🏼 @iNaseemShah’s hardwork pays off. #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/x0dXXxPlMY

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 21, 2022

Pakistan’s quick bowlers bowled briefly spells however each Smith and Khawaja negated the reverse swing on a flat wicket with mercury hovering round mid-30 levels Celsius (95 levels Fahrenheit).

Earlier, Smith and Khawaja led Australia’s restoration and carried the guests to 70-2 by lunch earlier than including additional 75 runs within the second session.

David Warner (7) was pinned on his crease by a supply which seamed again into the left-hander, beat the bat and struck his pads. Warner didn’t go for a tv referral.

Marnus Labuschagne then bought his second duck within the sequence when he drove recklessly in the identical over and bought a skinny exterior edge.

Make some 𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒊𝒔𝒆 🙌🏼 #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/2Sk8aRie7d

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 21, 2022

Pakistan went with the additional tempo possibility within the bowling assault and included Naseem rather than all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

Australia retained the identical XI which toiled for practically 172 overs on the final two days of the second take a look at however couldn’t drive a win at Karachi, the place Babar performed a marathon innings of 196.

Australia’s historic first tour of Pakistan in 24 years has added significance going into the sequence decider.

Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium is internet hosting its first take a look at in 13 years since a terrorist assault on the Sri Lanka group’s bus in 2009 that led to a prolonged absence of worldwide cricket in Pakistan.

No gamers within the beginning XI have performed a take a look at match on the Gaddafi Stadium, the place Babar made his one-day worldwide debut towards Zimbabwe in 2015 when Pakistan began its marketing campaign to win again the boldness of international groups and the resumption of worldwide cricket.

Azhar Ali is probably the most senior cricketer within the Pakistan XI, having performed 93 assessments, however is that includes in his first take a look at in his hometown.