Australia in command with massive lead

Tea Pakistan 258 and 1 for 37 need another 385 runs to beat Australia 8 or 225 dec (Watson 120*, Aamer 5-70) and 5 for 454 dec

The Aussie dominance in the MCG Test gained even more ground on day-three, despite a flutter in the top order. The hosts ended the day at 111 for three with a sizeable lead of 307.The tottering Pakistan innings was lifted by half-centuries from Umar Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq but lack of resistance from their peers resulted in the visitors getting dismissed for 258 in response to Australia’s 454.Teenage sensation Umar Akmal pulled out another fighting knock under pressure even as his senior prose failed to stand their ground against Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger. Only Misbah showed resolve with an unbeaten 65 but was stranded by a tail that failed to wag with vigour.

           The fluency with which Akmal and Misbah played highlighted the fact that there we re no demons in the drop-in MCG wicket.Akmal singled Peter Siddle out for special treatment when he clobbered the pacer for 19 runs in an over, smashing him for three boundaries and a six. When Siddle pitched it short, Akmal pulled him away to the fence, first for a four and then over the ropes. The two fuller deliveries outside the off-stump were heaved over the mid-off and guided down the third-man respectively.Ironically, it was a shortish delivery outside off from Johnson that brought Akmal’s end. He reached for the ball only to see it landing in the keeper’s hand after taking the outside edge off his bat. Akmal was gone for 51.

           Misbah took over the charge after Akmal’s departure and batted with ease. His eight boundaries came off some elegant drives down the ground and through the covers, attacking pulls and gentle flicks. He also got the rub of the green going his way when Ponting dropped a sitter at second slip, denying a wicket to Johnson.Both half-centurions got some support from an unexpected quarter – in night-watchman Mohammad Aamer. The pacer formed crucial partnerships with first Akmal and then Misbah. His 89-ball innings of 15 runs was all about frustrating the Australians and keeping company to the better batsman by just holding one end up.But the second new ball did the trick for the hosts and Bollinger finally brought an end to the frustration by bouncing the young man out. He followed Aamer’s wicket with those of Kamran Akmal (12) and Abdul Rauf (3) in a jiffy. Siddle accounted for Mohammad Asif and Johnson got his third scapl by knocking over last man Saeed Ajmal’s off-stump. Pakistan were bundled out for 258.