Sydney: Fast bowler Aamer Jamal played a spirited knock of 82 runs off 97 balls to give Pakistan total a boost after top order failed in the third and final Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. At stumps the hosts scored six runs in reply to visitors 313 all out. Aamer was given a resolute support by fellow pacer and number 11 batsman Mir Hamza who shared 7 runs off 43 deliveries in the last wicket stand of 86 runs. Aamer hit four sixes and nine hits to the fence. The other significant contributor to the total was Salman Ali Agha who compiled 53 runs.

Mohammad Rizwan repelled Australia with adventurous batting until falling on the stroke of tea for 88, as Pakistan's recovery from a top-order collapse suffered a major blow on the opening day of the third Test.

Rizwan belted 76 off 72 balls in the second session on a benign SCG surface, but miscued a Pat Cummins short delivery to deep fine leg. He had appeared set to become Pakistan's first centurion of the series, but his dismissal handed the ascendency back to Australia.

Cummins continued his stellar series by again providing a breakthrough out of nowhere and took 3 for 40 off 10 overs. Recalled Sajid Khan then survived a dropped chance from Usman Khawaja in the slips off allrounder Mitchell Marsh as batting suddenly appeared more difficult with sunshine making way for cloud covering. Pakistan's batting order throughout the series has mostly been under a stranglehold by Australia's attack, but Rizwan and Salman Agha dominated with a 94-run partnership for the sixth wicket in favourable batting conditions. Rizwan had batted bravely in the Boxing Day Test with scores of 42 and 35, where he briefly gave Pakistan hope of chasing 317 runs until falling late on day four after a short Cummins delivery flicked his wristband. He has continued to make Pakistan's hierarchy appear rather foolish for not selecting him in the series opener in Perth with Sarfaraz Ahmed preferred. With Pakistan resuming the second session at 75 for 4, Rizwan continued where he left off before lunch as he targeted backward point and scored runs quickly. But captain Shan Masood was unable to bat proactively as his preference given his team's predicament. Masood had been watchful against Nathan Lyon, who he had numerously charged at in Melbourne, but his bid to play the long haul seemingly ended on 32 when he edged Marsh straight to second slip. But Marsh's celebrations were halted when he was found to have delivered a no-ball. Masood could not make him pay and fell almost in the exact same manner shortly after with Marsh relieved when it was confirmed that he hadn't overstepped again.

Stumps - Pakistan 313 (Rizwan 88, Aamer Jamal 82, Salman Agha 53, Cummins 5 for 61, Starc 2 for 75) vs Australia 6 for 0

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 04 2024

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