Australia vs Pakistan 2016/17: 1st Test, Day 3 - 5 talking points
Pakistan were 70/2 at the end of day three at the Gabba chasing an improbable 490 for victory after Australia declared their second innings at 202/5. Struggling to cope with the pink ball in the first innings, Pakistan showed better judgement against the seamers in their second attempt batting, but the fightback came too late in the Test.
Mohammad Amir and Sarfraz Ahmed took Pakistan past 100 and to some respectability in the first innings finishing on 142. Australia, aided by another Steven Smith special and Usman Khawaja's 74, raced to 202/5 at a run rate of 5.18, setting Pakistan 490 to win the Test.
If Australia expected to run over the hapless Pakistani batsmen late in the day under lights, they were proved wrong by a determined Azhar Ali, who remained unbeaten on 41 at stumps. Much of Pakistan's resistance will have to come from him and the experienced middle order, but the task before them is near impossible.
Here are the talking points from Day 3 of the 1st Test at Brisbane.
#5 Mohammad Amir shows Pakistani top order how to bat
After reducing Pakistan to 67/8 halfway through the 3rd session on Day 2, Australia expected to bowl them out by the end of the day. However, a resilient Mohammad Amir and attacking Sarfraz Ahmed took Pakistan to safety before resuming their fight today.
Amir was attacked with short stuff right from the onset of Day 3 by Mitchell Starc. Hazlewood tested his defence with consistent lines outside his off-stump. Amir, however, negotiated whatever thrown at him with sound defensive technique and crunchy back foot drives that would have put the Pakistani top order to shame.
Even when Nathan Lyon tested him by spinning the ball across him, Amir was up to the task and defended responsibly. Starc even urged him with a gesture to hit his bouncers to a deep third man in place. But the confident Amir just smiled back and continued to defend. Bird finally put an end to his 69 ball stay at the wicket.