ASAD Shafiq recorded his 10th Test century but Pakistan are just two wickets from defeat against Australia in the first Test despite some admirable second-innings resistance.The tourists started the fourth day70-2 in pursuit of a mammoth target of 490 at the Gabba, but significantly improved on their first-innings effort of 142, Azhar Ali (71), Younis Khan (65) and Mohammad Amir (48) all excelling with the bat.
But it was Shafiq who played a starring role, ending the day on 100 not out to help Pakistan to 382-8, standing firm as the wickets continued to tumble around him.
Shafiq slashed a shot to deep point to bring up his ton in the final over of the day, which also saw Australia further dent Pakistan’s hopes of an improbable victory as Jackson Bird (3-94) removed Wahab Riaz for 30.
A further 75 runs were added to Pakistan’s overnight total by Azhar and Younis before the former saw his stay at the crease ended when he gloved Mitchell Starc (3-97) to Matthew Wade.
Misbah-ul-Haq made just five runs from the 34 deliveries he faced and Younis paid the price for attempting a reverse sweep when he top-edged Nathan Lyon (2-100) to slip.
Sarfraz Ahmed (24) was then bowled through the gate by Starc, who was involved in something of a spat in the middle with Amir, the tailender serving to frustrate the Australia attack with his seventh-wicket stand of 92 with Shafiq.
A full offcutter delivery from Bird eventually ended Amir’s stint at the crease just two runs shy of his half-century, but Australia were cursing their luck when captain Steve Smith dropped Shafiq on 72 off the bowling of Starc.
That scare did not change Shafiq’s approach, which remained aggressive as he put on 66 for the eighth wicket with Wahab.
Shafiq, who scored just two in the first innings, hit 10 fours and a six in his 140-ball hundred, but Pakistan head into a fifth day in a perilous position after Bird struck with the third ball of the final over.
Wahab wafted at a short delivery and Smith was there to atone for his earlier error, edging Australia towards triumph, though Pakistan can have reason to be proud of the defiance displayed in forcing the match to a final day.

AUSTRALIA 1st innings 429 (S. Smith 130, P. Handscomb 105, M. Renshaw 71; W. Riaz 4-89, M. Amir 4-97)
Pakistan 1st innings 142 (S. Ahmed 59no)
Australia 2nd innings 202 for 5 decl (U. Khawaja 74, S. Smith 63)
Pakistan 2nd innings (Overnight: 70-2; Target: 490 runs)
S. Aslam c Renshaw b Starc 15
Az. Ali c Wade b Starc 71
B. Azam c Smith b Lyon 14
Y. Khan c Smith b Lyon 65
Misbah-ul-Haq c Wade b Bird 5
A. Shafiq not out 100
S. Ahmed b Starc 24
M. Amir c Wade b Bird 48
W. Riaz c Smith b Bird 30
Y. Shah not out 4
Extras (lb-4 w-2) 6
Total (for 8 wickets, 123 overs) 382
Fall of wickets: 1-31 S. Aslam,2-54 B. Azam,3-145 Az. Ali,4-165 Misbah-ul-Haq,5-173 Y. Khan,6-220 S. Ahmed,7-312 M. Amir,8-378 W. Riaz
To bat: R. Ali
Bowling: M. Starc 30 – 8 – 97 – 3(w-1),J. Hazlewood 35 – 11 – 78 – 0
J. Bird 29 – 6 – 94 – 3(w-1),N. Lyon 26 – 3 – 100 – 2,
N. Maddinson 3 – 0 – 9 – 0