LAHORE: Pakistan began expectantly Thursday in pursuit of a 351-run goal within the series-deciding 3rd Check in opposition to Australia, finishing on 73 with out loss on the shut in Lahore.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique had been unbeaten on 42 and 27 respectively, leaving the house staff wanting some other 278 runs in 90 overs, with all 10 wickets intact when play resumes Friday.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins declared their 2nd innings at 227-3 in a while after tea, a daring choice bearing in mind Pakistan controlled 443-7 in pursuit of 506 runs to attract remaining week’s Karachi Check.
The primary Check in Rawalpindi additionally resulted in a draw.
Australia had been unfortunate to not have disregarded Shafique off the penultimate supply of the day when slip Steve Smith had a slightly of a Marnus Labuschagne supply that as an alternative discovered the boundary.
Shafique additionally survived umpire Ahsan Raza’s choice of stuck at the back of off Lyon when on 13, as Australia’s efforts for an early wicket went in useless.
The spotlight of Australia’s innings used to be an unbeaten 104 through in-form opener Usman Khawaja, and Smith turning into the quickest guy to eight,000 Check runs.
Pakistan-born Khawaja, who were given a reprieve when Naseem Shah bowled him on 31 off a no-ball, scored 496 runs within the sequence, simply 17 in need of Mark Taylor’s report of 513 made in 1998 — the best in opposition to Pakistan in a three-match sequence.
Smith additionally had a memorable day, riding pacer Hasan Ali to hide the boundary to finish 8,000 runs within the 151st innings of his eighty fifth Check.
In doing so he beat Sri Lankan nice Kumar Sangakkara’s report of attaining 8,000 runs in 152 Check innings, accomplished in opposition to India in Colombo 12 years in the past.
Khawaja, who scored 160 within the drawn 2nd Check in Karachi, driven spinner Nauman Ali for 2 to finish his twelfth Check century earlier than tea spoil.
Australia added 112 runs within the two periods for the lack of David Warner (51) and Labuschagne (36) as they appeared for speedy runs to press for a victory.
Khawaja placed on 123 for the hole wicket with Warner after which some other 65 with Labuschagne.
Labuschagne, dropped on 11 off Sajid Khan, in any case holed out to Nauman after hitting six obstacles.
Previous, Australia scored fast runs as Warner opened with 3 obstacles in the second one over of the day in opposition to tempo spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi.
He reached his thirty fourth Check half-century in 123 mins earlier than left-armer Shaheen uprooted his off-stump on 51 with a faster supply that seamed away.
Warner’s knock integrated six fours and a six, however his keep on the wicket additionally noticed some controversy.
Umpires Aleem Dar and Ahsan Raza urged Warner, batting out of his crease, used to be encroaching onto a space of the pitch which might scuff and assist spinners later within the event.
He got rid of his helmet and gloves earlier than being occupied with animated dialog with the umpires. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam additionally joined the dialogue, pointing to the realm that Warner used to be allegedly harmful.
Play resumed after a couple of mins with none formal caution being given.
Australia are in Pakistan for the primary time since 1998, having in the past refused to excursion over safety fears.