A Pakistan batting collapse late on Wednesday enabled Australia to take control of the third Test match, in Karachi.
Pakistan began Day 3 looking to build on what they had achieved in the match so far. Having bowled out Australia for 391, they had reached 90/1 at stumps on Tuesday, trailing by 301 runs. Abdullah Shafique was on 45 and Azhar Ali on 30.
The pair continued to bat, looking to put their side in a strong position. Eighty more were added to the overnight score until Shafique fell to the spin of Nathan Lyon, caught behind. He had made 81, and his innings had featured 11 fours.
Azhar was joined by his captain Babar Azam. They added 44 before Australian captain Pat Cummins had Azhar caught and bowled for 78. He departed having hit a six and seven fours.
Babar and Fawad Alam added 33, but Australia kept chipping away. They were rewarded with the second new ball when Mitchell Starc bowled Alam for 13.
The pendulum then swung Australia’s way when Starc bowled Mohammad Rizwan for a single. Cummins then struck three quick blows, bowling Sajid Khan for six, and then dismissing Nauman Ali and Hassan Ali for ducks.
Babar had been watching the carnage from the other end. Now Starc had him leg before for 67: he had hit a six and six fours. Three balls later, Starc bowled Naseem Singh for a duck, and the innings had come to a sudden end on 268. The last seven wickets had fallen for the addition of just 20 runs in a little more than 10 overs, and the last four wickets on 268. Cummins took 5-56 and Starc 4-33.
The 125-run first-innings put Australia in the box seat. They reached 11/0 by close of play, extending their lead to 134. Usman Khawaja will resume in the morning on seven and David Warner on four.
Brief scores
Australia 391 (Usman Khawaja 91; Naseem Shah 4-58, Shaheen Shah Afridi 4-79) and 11/0 (Usman Khawaja 7*) lead Pakistan 268 (Abdullah Shafique 81; Pat Cummins 5-56, Mitchell Starc 4-33) by 134 runs.