Pakistan crawl after Umar fires

Pakistan's teenage brigade launched a stoic counter-offensive to begin the third day, but their efforts could not entirely stave off Australia's advancement. Umar Akmal continued his brilliant form from the tour of New Zealand with an eye-catching half-century and Mohammad Aamer, the nightwatchman, stood firm through to the lunch break as Pakistan progressed to 5 for 190, still trailing Australia's first innings total by 264 runs.

Akmal proved a one-man highlight reel in the first hour of play, showing little regard for the Australian bowlers or the reverse-swinging ball. His penchant for advancing on Shane Watson, Australia's best exponent of reverse in the match to date, disrupted both bowler and wicketkeeper, and his treatment of Peter Siddle in his 17th over bordered on the disdainful.

Having been struck a nasty blow to the helmet by Siddle the previous over, Akmal opted for a change in strategy in the period prior to lunch. A fullish delivery was dispatched over mid-on with a hybrid drive-pull stroke, and when Siddle shortened in length the next ball, Akmal swatted him more conventionally to the long-on boundary. With his sights now set, he launched Siddle's ensuing offering over the long-on rope, and followed with a thick edge through a vacant third slip to the third-man boundary.

Akmal proved himself a batsman of rare class in New Zealand last month with a ton on debut followed by three half-centuries, and his first Test outing on Australian soil continued the theme. Fearless in mind and solid in technique, Akmal raised his 50 off Mitchell Johnson's next over but, with a touch of youthful impetuosity, was dismissed next ball attempting to blaze an angling delivery through the covers.

His entertaining stint at the crease over, the task fell to Aamer and Misbah-ul-Haq to push Pakistan towards the follow-on target. Aamer batted stodgily, adding just ten runs for the session, while Misbah looked to target Nathan Hauritz, swiping his first two deliveries for ten runs. Misbah was gifted a life by Ricky Ponting in the penultimate over before lunch, dropped at second slip attempting to thrash a wide, reverse-swinging Johnson delivery.
Alex Brown is deputy editor of Cricinfo