Australia up the ante on third day at MCG

Australia ended the third day of the Melbourne test match against Pakistan with a lead of 307 runs and with only three of their second innings wickets down. First they bowled Pakistan out for a measly 258 in their first innings, and then followed it up by scoring 111/2 in their second innings to reach a position of relative strength by the time the stumps were drawn.

The Pakistanis began their day with the night watchman, Mohammad Aamer joining Umar Akmal. Akmal was looking good yesterday and continued batting in the same manner and thus impressing the experts as he had been so far. His half century came off 80 balls, before he was dismissed by Mitchell Johnson who induced him into cutting the ball to Ricky Ponting in the slips.

Aamer completed a great job as a night watchman, something that even the top-order could take a leaf out of as he batted for much time even after lunch. His final score was only 15, but he had batted 140 minutes to achieve that and he would have been proud of that. Misbah at the other end, scored a potentially career-altering unbeaten half century, and the visitors just managed to avoid the follow-on by getting to 258 all out. The last wicket stand was 38 runs that took them past the mark.

In their second innings, armed with the lead of 196 runs, the Aussies needed to probably bat for two and a half sessions to set their declaration. However, they did not begin too well, as they lost three quick wickets to the pace of Aamer and Asif. Asif started the landslide with Katich nicking him to the wicket-keeper, whereas Ponting pulled on straight to the fielder at the square-leg to peg the Aussies back. Michael Hussey began with a boundary but was declared out by the third umpire after the umpire’s decision was challenged by the batsman.

At 40/3, the Aussies could have capitulated hard, but despite Shane Watson’s relative discomfit at the crease, he batted on manfully to end the day on another unbeaten half century. He was on 64 whereas Michael Clarke on 21 when the stumps were called.