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In a compelling display of cricket, Pat Cummins' Australia maintained a firm grip on the opening Test against Shan Masood-led Pakistan, overcoming an early hiccup in their second innings on Day 3 on Saturday, December 16. After opting not to enforce the follow-on on Saturday, Australia reached 84/2 in the final session of Day 3, extending their lead to a commanding 300 runs. This came on the heels of Pakistan's collapse to 271 all out, handing Australia a significant 216-run first-innings lead.
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Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja emerged as key figures for Australia, with Smith notching an unbeaten 43 and Khawaja contributing a steady 34 not out. Smith's resilience was tested after a hit on the shoulder from Shaheen Shah Afridi's delivery, but he managed to continue his innings.
Nathan Lyon, Australia's seasoned spinner, played a pivotal role, taking three wickets for 66 runs. He now stands just one wicket shy of the illustrious 500 Test wicket milestone. Australia's pacers, notably disciplined in their line and length, alongside Lyon, applied consistent pressure on the Pakistani batters on a pitch offering some assistance.
Mitchell Marsh, who had earlier played a crucial 90-run knock in Australia's formidable first innings total of 487, captured the key wicket of Pakistan's captain Babar Azam. This contribution was instrumental in dismantling Pakistan's batting lineup.
The Australian batting effort in the second innings, however, saw an early setback with David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne falling cheaply to Pakistan's debutant fast bowler Khurram Shahzad. Warner departed without scoring, while Labuschagne also succumbed to Shahzad's pace, leaving Australia at a precarious five for two. However, Smith and Khawaja's cautious approach steadied the innings and put Australia in a dominant position in the first match of the three-game series.
Earlier in the day, Australia's formidable pace attack, comprising Mitchell Starc, captain Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood, in tandem with Lyon, broke through Pakistan's resistance. The visitors had resumed the day at 132 for two but quickly lost nightwatchman Shahzad to Cummins.
Babar and Imam-ul-Haq initially steadied Pakistan's innings, but Marsh's breakthrough ended their partnership and led to a flurry of wickets, leaving Pakistan at 203 for six at lunch. Lyon's dismissal of Imam, who scored a patient 62, marked his 498th Test wicket.
Starc and Hazlewood continued to dismantle Pakistan's middle order, with Starc bowling Ahmed and Hazlewood claiming Saud Shakeel. Lyon and Travis Head wrapped up the Pakistani innings, leaving Afridi to be caught by Khawaja.
On the second day, Jamal, in his debut test for Pakistan, took six wickets for 111 runs, even as Australia amassed a total of 487, thanks to Warner's century and Marsh's valuable contribution. The opening Pakistani pair of Abdullah Shafique and Imam had initially resisted Australia's attack before Lyon and Starc made crucial breakthroughs. This Test series is a crucial encounter for both teams, with Australia holding the title of world Test champions and Pakistan seeking to break their long-standing winless streak in Australia since 1995.
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