Cummins and Lyon put Australia in sight of series-clinching win
Cummins and Lyon put Australia in sight of series-clinching win
Australian captain Pat Cummins took two quick wickets to put Australia on the verge of a historic series win in the third Test against Pakistan on Friday.
Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon sent three of Pakistan's middle-order batsmen back to the pavilion for the addition of only 25 runs during the second session, turning the series-deciding Test on its head.
At tea on the fifth and final day, Pakistan were 190-5, having fought hard for 61 overs for the loss of two wickets to keep the contest even.
Opener Imam-ul-Haq resisted the Australian attack during the morning session but Lyon ended his innings on 70 in the second over after lunch. Imam edged the ball onto his pads and the ball lobbed up into the hands of Marnus Labuschagne at silly point.
Skipper Babar Azam -- dropped on 44 by Travis Head off Lyon -- was still at the crease, hoping for another rearguard knock after his heroics to save the second Test in Karachi.
The home team were set 351 to win when Australia made a bold declaration. At tea, they were still 161 behind with 37 overs left to play.
Cummins lead the Aussie attack with figures of 2-23 while Lyon had 2-67.
Imam, who batted for 276-minute and hit five boundaries, reviewed the decision but the replay also ruled him out.
Cummins then trapped Fawad Alam (11) off a fuller delivery that evaded a defensive push by the left-hander.
Cummins doubled his wickets tally with another furious yorker that trapped wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan in front of his wickets for zero.
Pakistan lost Abdullah Shafique (27) and Azhar Ali (17) after resuming at 73 without loss in the morning.
Cameron Green provided Australia the much-needed early breakthrough when he forced an edge off Shafique in the fourth over of the day for wicketkeeper Alex Carey to take a simple catch.
Imam and Azhar took the score to 105 when spinner Lyon struck for the second breakthrough. Azhar missed a sweep and the ensuing thin edge was taken at slip by Steve Smith.
Umpire Ahsan Raza was forced to overturn the not-out decision on Australia's review with television replays showing a faint edge.
Australia are touring Pakistan for the first time since 1998, having previously refused to visit over safety fears.
D.Torres--LGdM
