Dubai: An all-too-familiar batting collapse has exposed Australias frailties in Asia and left the tourists battling to save the first Test against Pakistan after losing 10 wickets for just 60 runs.
Pakistan were 3-45 in their second innings at stumps on day three, leading by 325 runs after Australia were bowled out for 202 in Dubai.
Under the pump: Captain Tim Paine fell cheaply as Pakistan ran through Australia's middle and lower order.Credit:AAP
Left-arm spinner Jon Holland trapped Azhar Ali (four) lbw with the final ball of Tuesdays play after earlier dismissing first-innings centurion Mohammad Hafeez (17) courtesy of a sharp catch by Marnus Labuschagne at silly point.
The breakthroughs will provide some slight hope but Tim Paines men will rue a post-lunch collapse which undid a highly promising start.
Australias hopes of salvation had rested on the shoulders of Paine and vice-captain Mitch Marsh after tea.
Advertisement
But Marsh (12) was trapped lbw by paceman Mohammad Abbas shortly after the interval and Paine (seven) soon followed, unsuccessfully reviewing his dismissal from off-spinner Bilal Asif after replays confirmed a faint edge to short leg.
Bilal, 33, thrived in his maiden Test with figures of 6-36 and Abbas snared 4-29.
Ace leg-spinner Yasir Shah went wicketless but would have had Mitch Marsh dismissed for three if he had gotten his hands to a caught-and-bowled opportunity which bounced off his chest.
Australias tail failed to wag but the blame will rightly fall on a middle order that failed to contribute a score of note.
Labuschagne and Travis Head made debut ducks and No.3 batsman Shaun Marsh managed just seven.
Test debutant Aaron Finch (62) and Usman Khawaja (85) both appeared on track for centuries after putting on Australias second-highest opening partnership in Asia.
However, some shrewd tactics from Sarfraz brought the 142-run stand to an end as Finch drove an Abbas delivery straight down the throat of a well-positioned Asad Shafiq at short mid-on.
Khawajas growing confidence in conditions he had typically struggled in was on display when he reverse-swept Yasir for four off consecutive deliveries.
But the promoted opener also fell poorly to Bilal with a top-edge caught at short leg.
Head lasted just nine balls and Labuschagne two as Australias hopes of getting close to Pakistans imposing first-innings total of 482 slipped away.
Australia have only won on three occasions in Test cricket after conceding at least 482 runs in the first innings.
Pakistan will resume on day four with Imam-ul-Haq 23 not out and Asad Shafiq yet to score.
AAP
