During a two-part session on the third evening at the SCG, Australia overtook the lead in the third and final Test when Josh Hazlewood led a dramatic collapse of Pakistan at 68/7 in their second innings, which was reduced to 5 for 9. Pakistan was denied twice within two hours their attempts to convert their tenuous 14-run lead into a substantial one, after Australia were dismissed for 299 shortly after tea. Initially, when both Australian newcomers took wickets in their respective first overs, and then in the final minutes of play with Hazlewood’s triple-wicket over.
Mitchell Starc provided Australia with an ideal start with the ball, delivering a brace to Abdullah Shafique with an absolute beauty that slithered back in sharply enough to slip through the bat-pad gap and derail Abdullah Shafique’s stumps. Shan Masood, captain of Pakistan, was penalized for another careless outside-off attempt one ball later when he touched behind the keeper.
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam’s 57-run partnership facilitated Pakistan’s consolidation in a commendable manner and at a respectable rate. During their fifty-plus partnership, the third-wicket duo amassed nearly 3.5 runs per over, with the debutant taking the lead. Babar, who also helped Pakistan extend their advantage beyond the 50-mark, recovered from a sluggish start and settled in comfortably against the spinners on a surface that had much to offer slower bowlers.
As Australia grew increasingly desperate for a breakthrough, Lyon opened the floodgates by trapping Ayub in front of them on 33. After reviewing the Pakistan opener, one was left dissatisfied. Babar was subsequently enticed by Travis Head to engage in a cover drive, which resulted in an outside edge that was devoured from behind. Hazlewood’s triple-wicket debut, which Pat Cummins delivered to him for a final lunge before curtains, firmly established Australia in the driving seat.
As Hazlewood hit the first delivery back after Saud Shakeel exited the middle, it was due to a sluggish drive away from the body. After one ball, the night watch was dismissed through the gap, and Salman Agha edged his second delivery to first slip. At the dismissal of play, Pakistan held a mere 82-run lead, while Australia was on the verge of a series sweep.
Aamer Jamal, earlier in the session, instigated a remarkable collapse of 4 for 6 in order to inexpensively dispose of Australia’s tail. The half-centurion Mitch Marsh was taken by the pacer in his very second over following tea. Following a magnificent drive, the pacer had previously delivered, Marsh toe-ended an aerial drive to the Pakistan captain at a wide mid-off with a fuller length ball in his hand. After hitting Pat Cummins in front of the wickets with the following delivery, he obtained a review in order to secure his fourth wicket.
It was not long before Jamal received the fifer. Nathan Lyon was sent backwards by a magnificent low catch at gully in the very next over bowled by Saud Shakeel. Hazlewood then nicked a second slip a delivery later as Australia collapsed from a comfortable 289/5 to 299 all out in less than four overs shortly after tea.
It was in stark contrast to their determined performance in the previous two sessions, during which the Labuschagne-Smith stand withstood Pakistan’s probing, accurate deliveries and the Marsh-Carey partnership exhausted them with the second new ball, giving the hosts a looming lead.
Following a string of five consecutive maidens in the morning, the overnight batsmen employed the short-ball strategy as Australia’s scoring momentum resumed. Smith reached fifty for the stand with an ill-timed pull off Jamal that was almost caught by short midwicket, whereas Labuschagne accomplished the feat with an outstanding pull off Hasan Ali subsequent to beverages consumed during a protracted morning session.
Then, Australia lost Smith to the flow of play when a full ball from Mir Hamza enticed him into an aerial drive. The 99-run stand was disrupted when Babar Azam caught the overrun with an impeccably timed leap. Salman Agha took the very next over with a fast spin in, which passed through the bat-pad gap and rattled Labuschagne’s stumps, giving the visitors two major strikes heading into lunch.
Marsh spearheaded Australia’s comeback in the afternoon with a sprightly 84-run combination with Carey and his fourth fifty of the series. On seven, he exacted a severe price from Pakistan for an early reprieve, as debutant Saim Ayub missed a mid-off chance despite a forward lunge. Marsh accounted for an additional 47 runs.
After more than eleven overs, Pakistan resisted the temptation to take the new ball, which was introduced after Jamal had dismissed Travis Head LBW with the old one, but ultimately capitulated as their lead dwindled to double digits. However, the bowlers could no longer apply the same level of duress. Marsh, who had an LBW verdict overturned, experienced a better turn of events as he amassed his fourth fifty in five innings despite his attempted draw receiving a hefty top edge. Carey, however, was bowled through the breach by Sajid Khan against the run of play, becoming the third Australian batsman this innings to fail to convert his start and be dismissed in 30s.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 313 & 68/7 (Saim Ayub 33; Hazlewood 4-9) lead Australia 299, by 82 runs
