3rd Test, Day 4: Khawaja shines; Pakistan to chase 351
Australia declared their innings on a score of 227/3 on Day 4. Usman Khawaja and David Warner scored the bulk of runs in the second innings to set a target of 351 for the hosts. Pakistan wrapped oup Day 4 with a score of 73/0. They need 278 runs to win this Test. Here are the takeaways.
Resuming their play from 11/0, Aussie openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja capitalized well on the conditions. The duo added 96 runs for the opening wicket. Khawaja remained unbeaten on 104*, while Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith chipped in with 36 and 17 runs respectively. Pace duo of Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah and spinner Nauman Ali pocketed a wicket each.
Khawaja's scintillating form yet again proved to be a significant factor for the Aussies. He smashed 104* off 178 deliveries with a tally of 8 fours. His last five scores in the Tests read 104*, 91, 44, 160, 97. In the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23, the southpaw now averages 125.16, managing 751 runs that comprises of five tons and four fifties.
Smith registered a historic feat in the third innings of the ongoing Test. The Aussie batter needed seven runs to accomplish 8,000 runs in Tests. Having attained the tally in 151 innings, Smith is now the quickest ever to reach the landmark in the history of Test cricket. He beat the likes of Kumar Sangakkara (152) and Sachin Tendulkar (154).
Warner and Khawaja dominated the hosts' bowling attack by significant margins. In total, the pair added 96 runs. With Warner dismissed on 51, the duo of Marnus Labuschagne and Khawaja stitched a 65-run stand. Labuschagne scored a crucial 36 before being dismissed by Nauman Ali. Khawaja persevered with another crucial partnership, adding 55 runs alongside Steve Smith (17). Travis head remained unbeaten on 11.
Openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq looked in a good nick at the start of the final inning. They added 73 runs to the total, with Shafique on 27* and Imam looking well set on 42*. Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc remained wicketless in their pursuit. Pakistan need 278 runs on the fifth day to win this Test and the series.
