THE final Test between Australia and Pakistan is in the balance after a see-saw second day that ended with Pakistan trailing by 301 runs with nine wickets in hand.

Much like the opening day, Australia once again squandered an opportunity to dominate the game as they collapsed to lose their final five wickets for just 50 runs. In reply, Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali guided the home side to 90-1 by stumps.

The day began with Cameron Green and Alex Carey frustrating the Pakistan attack in the morning session.

The two batters took little time to get going as Carey first hit Naseem Shah through the covers for his first boundary of the day which was followed by Green punching Shaheen Afridi through point three balls later.

The introduction of Nauman Ali and Hasan Ali at the same time didn’t make a difference either as Carey and Green once again picked a boundary each. Carey had a slice of luck as well when a yorker failed to rearrange the stumps despite making contact and the wicketkeeper-batter made full use of the opportunity to help himself to a third Test fifty.

Green, on the other hand, was very watchful in his approach and reached his landmark soon after as the duo raised more than 100 for the sixth wicket. They kept the Pakistan attack at bay for the entire session and looked good to extend the home side’s misery post lunch as well. However, Pakistan staged a spirited fightback once again, similar to the one in the final session on the first day. Carey was first trapped leg-before-wicket off Nauman and that was the opening the hosts needed.

Naseem and Shaheen found plenty of reverse swing to make life difficult for the lower order. The writing was on the wall the moment Naseem breached Green’s defence as Australia eventually lost their way to get bowled out for 391.

Abdullah Shafique and Imam-Ul-Haq blunted the attack as Pat Cummins was forced to bring on Green and Nathan Lyon very early into the innings.

After handing three overs to Green with the brand new cherry, Cummins brought himself back into the attack to try and force a breakthrough and the move paid off. The ball came back in from around the wicket after pitching to rap the batter on his pads and Imam didn’t even bother reviewing the call. From thereon, it was all Pakistan though as Shafique and Azhar frustrated the visitors. (Cricbuzz)

AUSTRALIA 1st innings
David Warner lbw Shaheen Afridi 7
Usman Khawaja c Babar Azam b Sajid Khan 91
Marnus Labuschagne c Mohammad Rizwan b Shaheen Afridi 0
Steven Smith lbw Naseem Shah 59
Travis Head c Mohammad Rizwan b Naseem Shah 26
Cameron Green b Naseem Shah 79
Alex Carey lbw Nauman Ali 67
Mitchell Starc c Nauman Ali b Shaheen Afridi 13
Pat Cummins not out 11
Nathan Lyon b Naseem Shah 4
Mitchell Swepson b Shaheen Afridi 9
Extras: (b-13 lb-4, nb-8) 25
Total: (all out, 133.3 overs) 391
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-8, 3-146, 4-187, 5-206, 6-341, 7-353, 8-369, 9-374.
Bowling: Shaheen Afridi 24.3 3-79-4, Hasan Ali 20-5-61-0 (nb-3), Naseem Shah 31-13-58-4 (nb-2), Nauman Ali 24-4-77-1(nb-3), Sajid Khan 33-4-97-1.
PAKISTAN 1st innings
Abdullah Shafique not out 45
Imam ul-Haq lbw Pat Cummins 11
Azhar Ali not out 30
Extras: (b-1, nb-3) 4
Total: (one wkt, 39.0 overs) 90
Fall of wickets: 1-20.
Bowling: Mitchell Starc 8-3-10-0, Pat Cummins 10-2-27-1 (nb-1), Cameron Green 7-2-17-0 (nb-1), Nathan Lyon 8-2-15-0, Mitchell Swepson 6-1-20-0 (nb-1).