Australia faces a formidable challenge to win a 17th straight Test match against Pakistan at home. This is after the visitors took an early lead by forcing the hosts to lose wickets quickly in the first innings. However, they met the same destiny on a thrilling third day at the SCG.
The hosts were bowled out for 299 following a 14-run first innings deficit, thanks to a second six-wicket haul by Jamal on an incredible debut Test trip. The final five wickets fell for just 10 runs each side of the lunch break.
Mitchell Starc added more drama to the opening day when he repeated his scorching start on Day 1. He did so by delivering the ball of the season to knock over Abdullah Shafique. Josh Hazlewood also turned in a repeat performance, finding captain Shan Masood’s outside edge from just his second ball.
Pakistan is astonishingly still in the running to secure a consolation win and fend off a clean sweep of the series. This is because they find themselves being 7/68 at stumps and ahead by 82 following a triple-wicket maiden by Hazlewood during the final overs of the day.
Who is ahead in the game after the third day’s play?
Given the current state of the pitch, which exhibits tremendous uneven bounce. It also indicates a lack of confidence when the ball is in hand. The Australian team has a history of dramatic run chase blunders. Therefore, they would find it difficult to achieve any score beyond 150.
However, when the tourists gave way to a fearsome assault spearheaded by the unrelenting Hazlewood, it required six-wicket sensation Aamer Jamal as well as Mohammad Rizwan to lead Pakistan to salvation at stumps. Australia will be anxious while they are still there, having both struck 80s to lead the visitors to 313 during the first innings. The morning session on day four might tell the supporters the real picture of how the match is going to go.
Fans react as Pakistan suffer epic collapse during second innings against Australia in Sydney: –
58 for 2
58 for 3
60 for 4
67 for 5
67 for 6
67 for 7Typical Pakistan collapse at overseas. pic.twitter.com/umh03d5eQI
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 5, 2024
Learning from our neighbours
153-4 to 153-10 ?— ?????? ???? ?? (@SalmanAsif2007) January 5, 2024
Just looking like a pic.twitter.com/XWx2wxfc33
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) January 5, 2024
@mufaddal_vohra , 1st week of January 2024 will be remembered for collapses in test cricket.
Courtsey – Siraj, Bumrah, Rabada, Ngidi,Hazlewood, Jansen , Burger pic.twitter.com/5OXI9QF7Tm
— Shivam Sopori?? (@shivamsopori) January 5, 2024
Pakistan cricket team at their very best ?? pic.twitter.com/TtEJ2yz62g
— CricWiz (@CricWizTalks) January 5, 2024
So beautiful so elegant just wickets falling like a W0W0W
— Pratik (@fake_engineer7) January 5, 2024
153/3
153/10No trophy since 2013
Lost final against Pak CT17Typical Indian Chokers Collapse at overseas, No farming pitches no Party for indian Farmers??????
— Maze (@Maze_6999) January 5, 2024
Atleast Cummins is Wicketless ?
— Waqar Afridi (@WakaAfridi) January 5, 2024
Wowow
— Gurmeet Singh (@VK18THEGOAT) January 5, 2024
How i Support my team here , he's professional.
Their salaries is too much and see their Performances ??— M.Awais Tahir (@Awaistahir387) January 5, 2024
