MELBOURNE: Chasing a daunting target of 422 runs, Pakistan reached 170 for three at stumps on day four of the first Test against Australia on Tuesday.
Captain Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Umar Akmal (27) were at the crease.
The two batsmen hold the key for Pakistan if it wants to challenge the Kangaroos, but it would require a mammoth effort from both the batsmen to chase down the gigantic total to take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
Needing 252 more runs on the final day Pakistan could create history by chasing down the highest total in a Test match, but given the recent form of the Pakistani middle-order it will surely require either Yousuf or young Akmal to rise to the occasion.
Pakistan started awfully in the second innings with the left-arm quick duo of Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson removing the both openers with great in-swinging deliveries.
But it was off-spinner Nathan Hauritz who dealt the visitors a bigger blow by removing Faisal Iqbal for 48 with an hour to play.
Earlier in the day, all-rounder Shane Watson achieved his long standing dream of hitting a Test match century, but not before offering the Pakistani fielders a chance which they refused to hold on to.
Watson was dropped on 99 Abdur Rauf at square gully of the bowling of Mohammad Aamer.
Aamer bowled splendidly through the Australian second innings, especially in the first hour of the day, and removed Michael Clarke (37), Marcus North (8) and Brad Haddin, for a second-ball duck.
Captain Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Umar Akmal (27) were at the crease.
The two batsmen hold the key for Pakistan if it wants to challenge the Kangaroos, but it would require a mammoth effort from both the batsmen to chase down the gigantic total to take a 1-0 lead in the three match series.
Needing 252 more runs on the final day Pakistan could create history by chasing down the highest total in a Test match, but given the recent form of the Pakistani middle-order it will surely require either Yousuf or young Akmal to rise to the occasion.
Pakistan started awfully in the second innings with the left-arm quick duo of Doug Bollinger and Mitchell Johnson removing the both openers with great in-swinging deliveries.
But it was off-spinner Nathan Hauritz who dealt the visitors a bigger blow by removing Faisal Iqbal for 48 with an hour to play.
Earlier in the day, all-rounder Shane Watson achieved his long standing dream of hitting a Test match century, but not before offering the Pakistani fielders a chance which they refused to hold on to.
Watson was dropped on 99 Abdur Rauf at square gully of the bowling of Mohammad Aamer.
Aamer bowled splendidly through the Australian second innings, especially in the first hour of the day, and removed Michael Clarke (37), Marcus North (8) and Brad Haddin, for a second-ball duck.
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