In the second Test at the MCG, Mir Hamza and Shaheen Shah Afridi each claimed three wickets.<\/p>\n
MELBOURNE: Australia rallied to take control of the second Test against Pakistan on Thursday, building a 241-run lead thanks to a fighting partnership of 153 runs between Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith.<\/p>\n
In response to Australia’s first innings 318, the hosts dismissed Pakistan for 264, but they were struggling at 16-4 in Melbourne after a shaky start to the second innings.<\/p>\n
However, Marsh (96) and Smith worked hard to put together a partnership that might save the match.<\/p>\n
The hosts were 187-6 at stumps on day three after Smith was dismissed for 50, off 176 balls, in the final over of the day, leaving Alex Carey undefeated on 16.<\/p>\n
Mir Hamza and Shaheen Shah Afridi both claimed three wickets.<\/p>\n
When Marsh was on 20, Abdullah Shafique revealed a legal catch in the slips, but it could have been a different story.<\/p>\n
Marsh was eventually dismissed four runs short of a well-earned century, but not before Agha Salman produced an incredible one-handed diving catch at slip.<\/p>\n
“It hurts at the end, obviously,” Marsh remarked regarding Smith’s termination. “However, from 16\u20134, we would have accepted a 240\u2013run lead at the conclusion of the game if you had told us.<\/p>\n
He went on, “It’s evenly poised.” “As we saw, I think there’s still enough in the wicket so add a few more runs tomorrow and we’ll give it our all.”<\/p>\n
Following Pakistan’s defeat by Cummins (5-48) and Nathan Lyon (4-73), Australia had to navigate a challenging 15-minute morning session.<\/p>\n
However, Usman Khawaja was dismissed for a duck on the second ball after spearhead Afridi was caught behind by Mohammad Rizwan.<\/p>\n