Australia vs Pakistan Live Score, 2nd Test Day 3: AUS vs PAK Live Updates from Melbourne
Australia have taken a commanding lead in the second Test against Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, as they declared their second innings at 187/6 and set Pakistan a mammoth target of 492 runs to win. At stumps on Day 3, Pakistan were struggling at 64/3, still needing 428 more runs with seven wickets in hand.
The day started with Australia resuming their first innings at 318/10, after a brilliant bowling performance by Pakistan on Day 2. However, the visitors could not capitalize on their advantage, as they were bowled out for a paltry 264 in 73.5 overs, conceding a 54-run lead to Australia. Hasan Ali was the top scorer for Pakistan with 61, while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc shared seven wickets between them for Australia.
Australia decided not to enforce the follow-on and batted again, looking to extend their lead and put Pakistan under pressure. They lost David Warner early, who was caught behind off Shaheen Afridi for 12. Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne then added 56 runs for the second wicket, before Khawaja was trapped lbw by Sajid Khan for 36. Labuschagne went on to score a fluent 50, before he was caught by Babar Azam off Faheem Ashraf.
Steven Smith and Travis Head then steadied the innings with a 49-run partnership, before Smith was dismissed by Nauman Ali for 32. Head was the next to go, caught by Mohammad Rizwan off Hasan Ali for 28. Cameron Green and Alex Carey then took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers, smashing 58 runs in 9.3 overs, before Australia declared their innings. Green remained unbeaten on 38, while Carey made 31. Hasan Ali was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, taking 3/41.
Pakistan faced a daunting task of chasing 492 runs in the fourth innings, and they got off to a disastrous start, losing both their openers in the first over. Mitchell Starc struck twice in his first over, removing Abid Ali and Azhar Ali for ducks. Abid was caught by Khawaja at gully, while Azhar was bowled by a yorker. Babar Azam and Fawad Alam then tried to rebuild the innings, but they could not survive for long, as Nathan Lyon got rid of Babar for 25, caught by Smith at slip.
Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan then saw off the remaining overs of the day, taking Pakistan to 64/3 at stumps. Fawad was unbeaten on 20, while Rizwan was on 13. Pakistan still have a mountain to climb, as they need 428 more runs to win, or bat out two more days to save the Test. Australia, on the other hand, are in a dominant position, and will look to wrap up the match and the series on Day 4.
This was the Australia vs Pakistan Live Score, 2nd Test Day 3: AUS vs PAK Live Updates from Melbourne. Stay tuned for more cricket news and updates from around the world.
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