NEW DELHI: Pakistan's Aamer Jamal claimed six wickets for 69 runs as
Pakistan
took a narrow first-innings lead against Australia in the third Test on Friday. However, Australia's home bowlers fought back strongly, leaving the match finely balanced heading into the final two days.
Josh Hazlewood
, the Australian paceman, turned the tide in his team's favor with four wickets for just nine runs, including three crucial wickets in the penultimate over of the day.
This left Pakistan struggling at 68/7 with a lead of only 82 runs.
Scorecard: Australia vs Pakistan, 3rd Test
Mohammad Rizwan, who remained unbeaten on six, and Aamer Jamal, who was yet to score, will resume on Saturday, aiming to set a challenging fourth-innings target for Australia on a deteriorating pitch.
Hazlewood expressed the importance of dismissing Rizwan early, stating, "Rizwan's obviously the key, so hopefully we see the back of him nice and early tomorrow."
The
Sydney Cricket Ground
was packed with more than 37,000 spectators, as the annual Jane McGrath charity day was observed with the ground adorned in pink. However, the early action on the field was underwhelming.
Pakistan's bowlers delivered 33 consecutive dot balls at one stage, as Australia, starting the day at 166 for two, took their time in pursuit of Pakistan's first-innings total of 313.
Australia lost key wickets before lunch, with Steve Smith departing for 38 and Marnus Labuschagne (60) falling victim to a brilliant delivery from spinner
Agha Salman
that dismantled his stumps.
Aamer Jamal joined the wicket-taking spree by dismissing Travis Head lbw for 10, and spinner Sajid Khan bowled Alex Carey for 38 just before tea, leaving the hosts at 289/6.
Australia would have expected to take a first-innings lead, but Jamal's outstanding performance after tea ensured that Pakistan secured a 14-run lead.
Jamal, playing only his third Test, took four wickets in just seven balls, including the key wicket of Mitchell Marsh for 54.
Pat Cummins
and Josh Hazlewood were both dismissed for ducks, and Nathan Lyon managed just five runs as Australia collapsed to be all out for 299.
"I'm over the moon, proud to be representing my country at this level," expressed an ecstatic Jamal after his remarkable performance.
Pakistan, who are looking to end a losing streak of 16 Tests in Australia since their last win in 1995, got off to a disastrous start in their second innings.
Abdullah Shafique was bowled by a superb delivery from
Mitchell Starc
in the first over, making it a pair of ducks in the match for him. Skipper Shan Masood suffered the same fate, caught behind off Hazlewood, and Pakistan slumped to 1-2 after tea.
Debutant Saim Ayub steadied the innings with
Babar Azam
before being dismissed for 33 by Nathan Lyon. Azam followed soon after, caught behind off Travis Head's spin. Hazlewood's late burst of wickets further dented Pakistan's hopes.
Australia have already secured the series with victories in the first two Tests in Perth and Melbourne but are determined to give
David Warner
a fitting farewell in his final Test at his home ground.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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