Pakistan drew closer to a win over Australia after 13 unsuccessful attempts in Test match cricket at the end of the third day of the second Test match of the series played at Leeds. Pakistan was 40 runs short of a win, and had seven wickets standing to level the series 1-1.
Australia were 136/2 overnight and looked good in their partnership between the pair of Michael Clarke and Ricky Ponting, both of whom had had a strong partnership of 89 runs under their belt. However, Mohammad Aamer started the third day with some vengeance.
First, he induced Ponting to edge a wide delivery into the hands of Kamran Akmal to send the captain back for 66. Then, he ensured that the man for Australia in crisis, Michael Hussey lasted for only eight runs, before having him edge the delivery to the slips. With Australia gasping for breath early on the third day, Aamer continued with his shenanigans and got rid of Marcus North, bowled off an inside-edge to reduce the Aussies to 164/5 – still six runs short of making them bat again and with half the side out.
The sixth wicket added 53 before Michael Clarke, who had scored 77 in the innings, was sent back by Mohammad Asif off a defensive prod. Tim Paine, at the other end, continued to show much improvement with the bat, but a cut shot saw him hit the ball straight into the hands of the cover fielder; Aussies 246/7 in strife.
What changed things around for Australia was a swashbuckling innings of 77 that came off 100 deliveries from Steve Smith at the number eight position. This ensured that the Aussies were able to add 103 runs off the last three wickets and set a tricky target of 180 for the Pakistanis.
Pakistan began well through Salman Butt and Imran Farhat as there was a sense of aggression in them. However, Ben Hilfenhaus had the last laugh when he sent back the Pakistani captain, caught in the slips. Imran Farhat should also have been sent back given that he had edged the ball to the slip, but Shane Watson failed to latch on to a sitter.
As it turned out, Farhat made the Aussies pay for the missed opportunity and scored 67. At the other end, Azhar Ali gave him good support to get 47 as the pair added 110 for the second wicket to take the game away from the Aussies. It was only a late burst of a couple of wickets by Doug Bollinger when he got rid of Farhat and Umar Amin that pegged them back to 140/3 when the stumps were called.
Pakistan need 40 more runs to achieve a historic win, after they had lost 13 Test matches in a row to the Aussies.