Bowlers to the fore as wickets tumble in SCG avalanche

By: Jasper Bruce Time published 2024-01-05 at 06:31 PM (GMT +11:00)

On an action-packed third day of the SCG Test, Aamir Jamal bowled Pakistan back into the game before a clinical Josh Hazlewood set late carnage in motion.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

AUSTRALIA v PAKISTAN, third Benaud-Qadir Trophy Test, SCG, day three

SCORE: Pakistan 313 (Mohammad Rizwan 88, Pat Cummins 5-61) and 7-68 (Saim Ayub 33, Josh Hazlewood 4-9); Australia 299 (Marnus Labuschagne 60, Aamir Jamal 6-69)

SUMMARY: With Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at the crease, Australia were poised for a big day of batting, but Pakistan, bowling 33 dot balls in a row early in the day, ensured the script never quite went to plan. Labuschagne and Smith fell within six balls of one another to swing the game on to an even keel just before lunch. Mitch Marsh was the only other Australian to make a significant mark, reaffirming his status as the side's form batter this series with a fourth half-century from five innings. But he clipped Aamir Jamal to mid-off in a collapse of 5-10 either side of tea that left the hosts 14 runs behind at the innings break. Aamir, playing only his third Test, had his fingerprints all over the late Pakistan comeback and has taken the wicket of every player in the Australian XI at some point this series. His heroics were a distant memory after the Australian attack got going in reply on the turning SCG pitch. Mitch Starc and Hazlewood struck early to reduce the tourists to 2-1, before the latter piled on the pressure late as Pakistan lost three wickets without scoring in one Hazlewood over.

PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Clinical quick Hazlewood put Australia within striking distance of a series whitewash, pouncing three times in one over to leave Pakistan's hopes of a fairytale victory in tatters. After dismissing Shan Masood caught behind for a golden duck, he disposed of Saud Shakeel, would-be nightwatchman Sajid Khan and Agha Salman in a devastating over as long shadows fell over the SCG.

STAT OF THE DAY: In only his third Test match, Aamir Jamal became the first player since Michael Bevan in 1997 to take a six-wicket haul and score 80 or more runs in the same Test in Australia.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "He probably should've put it on for the crowd, I'd have thought". David Warner had his missing baggy greens returned before play began on day three but opted to wear a wide-brim hat fielding in Pakistan's second innings, to the mock-disappointment of wicketkeeper Alex Carey.