ABU DHABI: Pakistan grabbed an early wicket after Babar Azam struck a fluent 99 to edge closer to a series victory over Australia in the second and final Test in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.

Babar narrowly missed out on a hundred after an aggressive innings, while skipper Sarfraz Ahmed followed up his first-innings 94 with 81 as Pakistan declared their second innings at 400-9, while setting a daunting 538-run target for the tourists at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

By the close on the third day, Pakistan had Shaun Marsh dismissed for four — bowled by left-arm paceman Mir Hamza for his first Test wicket — to boost their chances of victory after Australia clung on for a thrilling draw in the first Test in Dubai last week.

Aaron Finch (24) and Travis Head (17) were at the crease with Australia, who are 47-1 and need another 491 for an unlikely win or to bat out two full days on a weary and spinning pitch here.

No team has ever chased more than 418-7 to win a Test, made by the West Indies against Australia at St John’s in Antigua in 2003.

Pakistan piled on the runs with Babar, Sarfraz and Azhar Ali — who was the casualty of a bizarre run out — all making half-centuries to build on the hosts’ 137-run first-innings lead.

But none of them could go on to score a ton, with Babar falling agonisingly close to his maiden hundred, trapped leg-before by medium pacer Mitchell Marsh while trying to play across the line.

Babar’s disappointment was obvious. His 161-ball knock included six fours and three sixes.

“Of course, missing a hundred is disappointing but such things are part and parcel of the game,” Babar told reporters. “I am happy that Sarfraz and I built a partnership and have taken our team to a winning position.”

But Babar improved on his previous best Test score of 90 not out he made in New Zealand two years ago.

He and Sarfraz added 135 runs for the sixth wicket to end any hopes Australia had of a fightback after taking the second new ball at 273-5.

Sarfraz struck five fours and a six and delayed the declaration in hope of his fourth Test century, but fell leg-before while trying to sweep leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne who finished with 2-74.

But the pick of the bowlers was off-spinner Nathan Lyon who followed his first-innings four wickets with 4-135 in a marathon 43-over vigil.

After a dull opening period, the embarrassing dismissal of Azhar brought the day to life. The batsman edged a Peter Siddle delivery towards the third-man boundary and, thinking the ball had crossed the rope, halted in the middle of the pitch to talk to fellow batsman Asad Shafiq.

But Mitchell Starc picked up the ball less than a yard from the boundary and threw it back to wicket-keeper Tim Paine, who ran Azhar out, leaving the Pakistani duo — who have combined experience of 130 Tests and over 9,000 runs — stranded and looking silly.

Azhar fell for a well-played 64, including four boundaries.

Azhar, playing his 67th Test, and Asad, in his 63rd, were dumbfounded while the Australians celebrated a little slice of luck.

That dropped Pakistan to 160-4, but Asad, and particularly Babar and Sarfraz took full advantage of a tiring Australia attack.

Asad was the only wicket to fall in the middle session, caught at point for 44.

Pakistan had earlier lost Haris Sohail for 17, stumped by Paine off Nathan Lyon after resuming at 144-2.

Lyon, burdened with much of the workload, then grabbed two wickets in one over, those of Bilal Asif (15) and Yasir Shah (4).

Shaun Marsh was forced to open the innings after regular opener Usman Khawaja injured his troublesome left knee during a warm-up before the third day’s play. He didn’t field all day and was forced to drop down the order.

Marsh’s struggles continued in the series, which has ended for him with scores of 7, 0, 3 and 4. The left-hander couldn’t cope against the Pakistan seamers, and was undone by a superb delivery from Hamza and lost his off stump.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN (1st Innings) 282 (Fakhar Zaman 94, Sarfraz Ahmed 94; N.M. Lyon 4-78; M. Labuschagne 3-45).

AUSTRALIA (1st Innings) 145 (A.J. Finch 39; Mohammad Abbas 5-33, Bilal Asif 3-23).

PAKISTAN (2nd Innings, overnight 144-2):

Fakhar Zaman c and b Lyon 66
Mohammad Hafeez c Head b Starc 6
Azhar Ali run out 64
Haris Sohail st Paine b Lyon 17
Asad Shafiq c sub b Labuschagne 44
Babar Azam lbw b M. Marsh 99
Sarfraz Ahmed lbw b Labuschagne 81
Bilal Asif c Head b Lyon 15
Yasir Shah lbw b Lyon 4
Mohammad Abbas not out 0
Mir Hamza not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-2) 4

TOTAL (for nine wkts decl, 120 overs) 400

FALL OF WKTS: 1-15, 2-106, 3-154, 4-160, 5-235, 6-368, 7-390, 8-394, 9-400.

BOWLING: Starc 7-0-32-1 (1nb); Siddle 23-4-68-0; Lyon 43-8-135-4; Holland 16-3-46-0; Labuschagne 16-1-74-2; M.R. Marsh 13-3-39-1 (1nb); Head 2-0-4-0.

AUSTRALIA (2nd Innings):

A.J. Finch not out 24
S.E. Marsh b Hamza 4
T.M. Head not out 17

EXTRAS (LB-2) 2

TOTAL (for one wkt, 12 overs) 47

FALL OF WKT: 1-10.

BOWLING (to-date): Mohammad Abbas 4-0-15-0; Mir Hamza 3-0-19-1; Yasir Shah 3-0-6-0; Bilal Asif 2-1-5-0.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2018