Pakistan's Top Order Resisted after Jamal Took 6 Wickets on Debut
Lyon and Starc struck Shafique & Masood in the final session to keep the home side on top.
Pakistan 132 for 2 (Shafique 42, Imam 38*) trail Australia 487 (Warner 164, Marsh 90, Jamal 6-111) by 355 runs.
After a dominating innings of 164 from the opener David Warner on the opening day of the Benaud–Qadir Trophy, Australia started from 346/5 on day 2, their position further strengthened due to an aggressive knock of 90 off 107 balls from allrounder Mitchell Marsh.
Playing at his home ground Marsh took charge of to Pakistani bowlers in the first session and enjoyed his batting in his first Test match at Optus Stadium. Debutant pacer Aamer Jamal bowled with the same tactics as yesterday by bowling short to Aussie batters. Eventually, Marsh fell short of his fourth Test century after being clean-bowled by Shahzad on the first ball after lunch. Jamal cleaned the tail to finish with 6 for 111 from 20.2 overs in the sixth-best figures for a Pakistan player on debut.
After spending 113.2 overs in the field, Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq had resisted oppressive bowling from Australia's pace attack with a 74-run opening partnership. Nathan Lyon who returns from his calf injury removed Shafique miscuing to leg slip where David Warner held onto a fine catch. He is now just three away from 500 Test wickets.
Skipper Shan Masood batted with a positive mindset and scored 30 of 43 balls, having hit 5 delicate boundaries but fell just 10 minutes before stumps when he was caught behind off Starc in a decision overturned on review.
Khurram Shahzad survived through to stumps as the nightwatchman with Imam finishing on 38 from 136 balls.
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