Marsh falls in the 90’s again as 154-run stand with Smith flips Test on its head

An enthralling day three has seen all the highlights and momentum swings many feared this series would not produce.

After dismissing Pakistan early in the day for 264, Australia were stunned by a stellar bowling spell from Shaheen Afridi and Mir Hamza, collecting Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne before lunch, before Travis Head and David Warner fell soon after.

At 4/16, Steve Smith and Mitch Marsh were put under the microscope, left to fight Australia back into the game.

Another woeful drop at first slip by Abdullah Shafique gave Marsh an extra life at 20* as he and Smith began a momentum-changing stand.

Pakistan will rue the chances they let slip and the wasted potential of dismissing Australia for a low score, as highlighted by Damien Fleming on SEN Cricket.

“Take that catch, it (the total) could’ve been under 50.”

“The ball was hooping, the tail-ender wouldn’t have enjoyed the ball swinging both ways.”

But as he did with a brilliant Ashes hundred in England months ago, Mitch Marsh has again dragged his country out of a deep hole.

Tragically, his first innings fate in Perth was repeated, edging out to a first slip screamer from Salman Ali Agha for 96.

It is his second dismissal in the 90’s this series, but will go down as one of his finest Test innings, taking Australia’s lead well above 200.

Smith has followed suit, reaching 50 off 153 deliveries – the second slowest half-century in his Test career.

He was dismissed soon after, skying a short ball straight to backward point with just two-minutes of play remaining in the day.

While the late wicket of Smith has the match poised for a closer finish than expected, the 154-run stand by Marsh and Smith, putting the Aussies in an ideal position after the 4/16 start.

Australia will enter day four at 6/187 with a 241 second-innings lead.

EARLIER

Another hard session of Test cricket has kept the Boxing Day Test right in the balance as Pakistan and Australia traded blows.

The Australians didn’t take long on Day 3 to bowl out Pakistan, but the tourists hit back in a big way shortly back before lunch.

Pakistan came into the day at 6-194, with the Aussies expected to roll through the tail in quick succession.

The likes of Mohammad Rizwan (42), Aamir Jamal (33 not out) and Shaheen Afridi (21) put up a strong effort to reduce the deficit to just 58 runs when Pakistan was bowled out for 264. Pat Cummins was the primary destroyer, picking up where he left off on Wednesday night to finish with figures of 5-48.

The Aussies were well set up to go on with the job after seeing limited movement out of a waterlogged ball to start Day 3, yet Pakistan again flipped the script when Afridi had Usman Khawaja caught behind on the second ball of the day.

Marnus Labuschagne was millimetres from leaving Australia at 2/0 but minutes later left the Aussies in the lurch when being caught down the leg side on the final ball before lunch.

Instead, Australia is 2-6, with David Warner not out on 1.

“They’re back in the match… this ball is moving, it’s swinging and these conditions are perfect, so he’s going to have his lunch and come back ready to go,” former Aussie opener Chris Rogers told SEN Test Cricket at the break.

“If he can get two more, Australia will be under real pressure for the first time.”