Newcomer Asif rocks Australia in first Test

AFP  |  Dubai 

Debutant off-spinner led an Australian collapse with four wickets on the third day of the first Test in on Tuesday.

At the break, was ten not out and on six, as are still 302 runs behind Pakistan's first innings total of 482 and need another 103 runs to avoid the follow-on.

It was a total contrast from the pre-lunch session when -- resuming at 30-0 - reached 137 without loss with both and debutant defying Pakistani spinners during their resistance-packed stand.

But the second session belonged to Asif, who dismissed (85), (seven), (nought) and Marnus Labuschagne (nought) in the space of 29 runs.

Asif has figures of 4-28 in 17 overs.

Pakistan, though, were put on track by seamer who forced Finch to drive straight into the hands of at short mid-on after scoring 62.

Khawaja hit eight fours before miscuing a premeditated sweep and was caught at short leg while Finch had five boundaries and a six in his knock.

Leg-spinner was unlucky not to be amongst wickets, having dropped off his own for two and wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed missing a stump in the first session with Khawaja on 17. Earlier in the day Finch was more confident as he punched two boundaries and a six off

Yasir before sweeping Asif for a boundary to reach his half-century. Khawaja, the Pakistan-born batsman, improved upon his previous best score in of 26, made against at Galle in 2011, by reaching his 13th Test half-century.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, October 09 2018. 16:50 IST