THIRD TEST: Jamal’s 82 saves Pakistan after another Cummins five-for

Aamer Jamal celebrates his maiden Test fifty•Jan 03, 2024•Getty Images

But Mohammad Rizwan and Agha Salman struck attractive half-centuries to engineer a fightback. They both fell amid another flurry of Pakistan wickets either side of tea as batting became more difficult under significant cloud cover.

Pakistan, however, received an unexpected boost when Jamal and Hamza produced the highest tenth-wicket stand against Australia in Tests since England’s Alec Stewart and Andy Caddick combined for 103 in 2001. Jamal took Australia’s increasingly ragged attack apart, while Hamza stonewalled and didn’t score until his 22nd ball faced as they defied Australia superbly for over 90 minutes.

Pakistan’s hopes of a competitive total had seemingly nosedived when Rizwan holed out on 88 just before tea as they succumbed to a short-ball tactic perfectly executed by Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Cummins removed an impatient Sajid, who fell into the trap and hit straight to forward square.

Salman had defied the barrage of short deliveries to reach his second straight half-century before tamely falling to Starc, as Cummins claimed Hasan Ali for a duck and finished with 5 for 61 off 18 overs.

After their painful 79-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test, having fought bravely and at times appearing close to causing an upset, Pakistan started the new year with both their openers making ducks within the first eight deliveries of the match. (ESPNcricinfo)