Abu Dhabi: Australia will need to reprise their heroics from last week in Dubai, and then some, if they are to avoid a crushing loss in the second Test against Pakistan.
The tourists are facing a 1-0 series defeat, having been set a world record target of 538 in two and a bit days at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, and have already lost the early wicket of veteran Shaun Marsh, whose Test career now appears in jeopardy after yet another failure.
Bowled over: Pakistan celebrate taking the first wicket of Australia's second innings, after Shaun Marsh (right) was dismissed by Sarfaraz Ahmed (third left).Credit:AP
Adding to Australias woes is the possibility they will be unable to call on batting linchpin Usman Khawaja until the fall of the fifth wicket, after the opener hurt his previously reconstructed left knee in the warm-up before play on day three.
The injury is not believed to be serious, although Khawaja didnt field at all on Thursday, meaning he wont be able to be called on until late in the first session of day four, or when the fifth wicket falls, in accordance with rules around absences from the field.
Aaron Finch and Travis Head, both of whom only made their Test debuts in the series opener, are the men charged with trying to perform a second miracle for Australia. They were unbeaten on 24 and 17 respectively, with the tourists 1-47 at the close.
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Digging in: Australian opener Aaron Finch in action on day three.Credit:AP
With Khawaja unavailable, Marsh was promoted to open with Finch, and departed in the second over after a beautiful delivery from debutant paceman Mir Hamza clipped the top of Marshs off-stump, with the West Australian on his way for four.
It meant Marsh finished the series with just 14 runs at an average of 3.5. A hero last home summer, the veteran also endured a lean series in South Africa earlier this year, and at 35 his days in the Test side look numbered.
The target was set after Pakistan declared at 9-400 in their second innings, giving Australia 12 overs to bat late in the day.
With Pakistan having resumed at 2-145, it turned out to be a long and largely fruitless day in the field for Australia, but a handful of memorable incidents at least made for talking points.
The run out of Azhar Ali for 64 will feature in packages of cricket blunders for years to come.
Peter Siddle drew an edge from Azhar, with the ball racing down to the third man boundary. Azhar and Asad Shafiq clearly believed there was no need to run, and met mid-pitch as the somewhat lame Starc jogged to retrieve the ball. But across the first two days of the Test the outfield had proven to be a touch on the sluggish side, and the ball held up just inside the boundary. While his hamstring was feeling the pinch, there was nothing wrong with Starcs arm as he threw the ball to the strikers end, where Paine was waiting to complete the bizarre dismissal.
Perhaps in shock, the batsmen barely flinched as the bails were dislodged. Australia immediately celebrated, and Azhar had to trudge off.
On the Sony television broadcast, former Pakistan captain Rameez Raja described the dismissal as “embarrassing,” while former Australian all-rounder Tony Dodemaide labelled it “village” on Twitter.
Mitchell Starc's throw from the boundary ran out Azhar.Credit:AP
With the fall of that wicket, Pakistan were 4-160, and the tourists had some faint hope of restricting the target to a chaseable amount.
Shafiq was removed for 44 by Marnus Labuschagne shortly after lunch with the lead still under 400, but by tea Australias hopes had been almost totally dashed, as Babar Azam and Sarfraz Ahmed kept the scoreboard ticking over.
Near miss: Pakistan's Babar Azam, left, walks off after being dismissed for 99.Credit:AP
Starc was only used for three overs as Australia managed his hamstring tightness, while Jon Holland – down on luck over the first couple of days – was also used sparingly, completing a miserable series with the ball for the Victorian, who took just four wickets at 75 across the two Tests.
The sixth-wicket stand yielded 133 runs, ending in the days final session. Babar was denied a maiden Test century by just one run when trapped on the pads by Mitchell Marsh.
Nathan Lyon snared a couple of late wickets to finish with 4-135. One of his scalps was Bilal Asif, brilliantly caught at short-leg by Head for 15.
Sarfraz also missed a ton, gone for 81 as Labuschagne claimed his fifth wicket for the Test and seventh for the series to top Australias bowling averages.
Daniel is an Age sports reporter.
