Pat Cummins dominated Pakistan for the third consecutive innings as Australia secured an early advantage in the Third Test at the SCG. Despite a valiant effort from the tourists, they were dismissed for 313. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s tail-enders put up a decent score, preventing a complete collapse. Cummins claimed another five-wicket haul, taking 5-61, bringing his total in the series to 18 wickets.
Pakistan’s lower order, led by Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal, performed admirably, with Jamal scoring a remarkable maiden half-century. In response, Australia will resume at 0-6 on day two, with retiring opener David Warner at the crease. Despite their strong start, the hosts have more work to do than anticipated after Pakistan’s resilient lower-order performance.
The Australian team had a subpar day in the field by their standards, with a few missed opportunities and misfields. Warner will be looking to finish his final Test match with a memorable performance on day two. Overall, it was a day of mixed fortunes for both teams, setting the stage for an intriguing contest in the days ahead.