Rawalpindi: Half-centuries by Usman Khawaja (97), David Warner (68) and Marnus Labuschagne (69 not out) took Australia to 271-2 at stumps on Day 3 and helped reduce the deficit in their first innings of the first Test, here on Sunday.
Australia were 205 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total when the stumps were drawn with Labuschagne and Steven Smith (24) at the crease.
Resuming the day, the Pakistan bowlers were brilliant, bowling some probing lines and lengths with little help from the surface. David Warner even copped a few blows on his body. However, the hosts didn't reap any rewards for their effort. Usman Khawaja was dropped early in the day on 22 off Shaheen Afridi when Fawad Alam at gully could not hold onto the ball as it flew off the thickish edge of Khawaja's one-handed drive.
The Australia openers did well to see off the tricky first hour and as the day progressed gained confidence to hit back. Khawaja, being the aggressor, was the first to bring up his fifty in 67 balls. Warner too followed suit a few overs later, registering his 33rd half-century in Tests.
Brief scores: Pakistan 476/4 decl. (Azhar Ali 185, Imam Ul Haq 157, Imam-ul-Haq 157; Pat Cummins 1-62) lead Australia 271/2 (Usman Khawaja 97, David Warner 68; Nauman Ali 1-49) by 205 runs.
Also watch: