Pakistan A facing defeat after huge deficit

Pakistan A 86 for 3 (Hameed 36*, Irshad 5*) and 199 trail Australia A 657 for 8 dec by 372 runs
Scorecard

Pakistan A were left reeling at 86 for 3 in their second innings at the end of the third day's play still needing another 372 to make Australia A bat again and avoid an innings defeat. Yasir Hameed (36*) and Mohammad Irshad (5*), the nightwatchman, were the two unbeaten batsmen as they face an uphill task of batting out the entire day tomorrow and hold on for a draw.

Australia, earlier, declared after scoring a mammoth 657 for the loss of eight wickets courtesy of a 162-run partnership between David Hussey and James Hopes, the two overnight batsmen. Resuming on 143 and 34 respectively, both carried on the attack against the tiring Pakistan bowling line-up that even included Hasan Raza.

The fifth-wicket partnership was finally broken by Atif Maqbool when he had Hussey caught behind on 185. Hussey's 278-ball knock included 21 fours and was he unlucky not to reach his double-century. The Pakistan bowlers were still unable to grab the initiative as useful partnerships enabled Australia to extend their lead.

Maqbool then picked up his second wicket of the day by having Luke Ronchi leg-before for an aggressive 24-ball 22 that included two fours and a six. An 80-run partnership between Hopes and Ashley Noffke took Australia's total past 600 while adding to Pakistan's woes. Hopes' innings was finally ended when Mansoor Amjad, the 19-year old legspinner, cleaned him up on 144. Mansoor followed that up with Ronchi's wicket and Australia decided to make Pakistan bat with 41 overs remaining in the day.

Maqbool and Mansoor both picked up three wickets while Abdur Rauf got two. None of the four remaining bowlers managed any as Pakistan look for a decent and improved performance by their batsmen on the final day of the Test.