Australia A ride on McKay's career best

Australia A 399 and 4 for 128 lead Pakistan A 338 (Azhar Ali 78, Sarfraz Ahmed 56, Umar Akmal 54, McKay 6-75) by 189 runs
Scorecard

Clint McKay record his first six-wicket haul in first-class cricket to keep Australia A on top after the third day against Pakistan A in Townsville. McKay, the Victorian fast bowler, grabbed a career-best 6 for 75 to ensured a handy first-innings lead for the home team.

At stumps, Australia A had reached 4 for 128 in their second innings with Cameron White on 21 and Tim Paine on 3. Wahab Riaz picked up two wickets to add to his five from the first innings but the visitors faced an uphill battle with one day to play.

McKay started the damage early by removing Azhar Ali for 78, having added only five to his overnight score. Fahad Iqbal (42) and Sarfraz Ahmed (56) steadied the Pakistan innings with a 75-run partnership before they fell in consecutive overs.

Although the Australians finished in a strong position they received some bad news with the fast bowler Burt Cockley ruled out of the second and final four-day match due to a gluteus medius tear. He will be replaced in the squad by the Tasmania allrounder Luke Butterworth.