Marnus Labuschagne’s masterclass led Australia’s charge, putting them firmly in the driver’s seat against Pakistan, after they garnered an imposing 340-run lead against the hapless touring bowlers. Australia’s fast bowlers returned to grab three early wickets in the final hour, leaving Pakistan with a mountain to climb. Aadya Sharma picks out six balls that best define the day.

Naseem bags elusive maiden scalp

100.5, Warner c Rizwan b Naseem, 154; Aus 351-2

Four dots into the 101st over, two of which beat the outside edge of David Warner’s bat, Naseem Shah bagged his first Test wicket, and this time, there was no overstepping. Having faced 295 balls, Warner was stunned by a short ball from Naseem that sprung off the pitch and almost took Warner’s head along.

Awkwardly tied up, Warner tried to sway out of the way, but the bouncer crunched inwards and took a part of his bat along. Behind the stumps, Rizwan did well to swiftly move to his left and dive low, ending Warner’s 154-run marathon.

By then, however, Australia had crossed 350, having been served well by the two openers, who had stitched together 222, Australia’s first double-century opening partnership since 2015.

Smith, Yasir’s bunny

103.5, Smith b Yasir, 4; Aus 358-3

The last time Steve Smith fell for less than five in a Test innings was back in November 2016. Since then, Smith has enjoyed a sustained period of domination, flattening several attacks into submission, but one bowler who’s tormented Smith across seasons has been Yasir Shah. On Saturday, the leg-spinner one-upped the batsman, or one can say, seven-up.

Smith got off the mark by dancing down the track, and in trademark fashion, whipping a full ball to the mid-wicket fence. Yasir followed it up with another delivery on the stumps, but Smith was stuck to his crease this time. The delivery turned, slipped past his bat and into his stumps; an elated Yasir signalled ‘seven’ with his fingers – the number of times he has dismissed Smith in Test cricket.

Labuschagne brings up dream ton

106.4, Shaheen Shah to Labuschagne, FOUR

It’s a story for the ages. In 2010, Labuschagne was the ‘Hot Spot’ guy at The Gabba, working as a camera operator at the stadium. Almost a decade later, he became Australia’s latest Test centurion, at the same venue, and ended 15 short of a double.

In a display of assured run-compiling, studded with 20 hits to the fence, Labuschagne piled on Pakistan’s agony with an array of shots round the ground, ensuring runs kept coming at a fair clip.

It wasn’t the most assured of strokes that brought up the three-figure-mark – a thick edge off his drive sneaked through the slip cordon – but it didn’t matter. An ecstatic Labuschagne capped off his century celebration with a punch in the air and a bear hug with Matthew Wade.

Rizwan clings on to thin luck

131.6, Wade c Rizwan b Sohail, 60; Aus 468-4

Wade continues to grow from strength to strength upon his return as an out-and-out Test batsman in the Australian side. After ending the Ashes with a 117, Wade combined with Labuschagne to further deflate Pakistan, stitching together a 110-run stand that propelled them towards 500.

Having collected 60 breezy runs, including an imperious six off Iftikhar Ahmed, Wade looked like there’s little that could trouble him from the spin department. However, an innocuous delivery from Haris Sohail caught Wade in his crease, as he edged one behind. The ball bounced off Rizwan’s thigh, the ‘keeper somehow managing to cling on to the rebound. Suddenly, Wade was off, dismissed against the run of play.

Rizwan was in the thick of the action again, showing tremendous commitment to run behind an edge and chase it behind the wicket, diving by the ropes to save his team a run. He later pouched Tim Paine and Pat Cummins to end a fruitful day.

Shaheen returns to redeem himself

148.5, Paine c Shafiq b Shaheen, 13; Aus 545-6

Having sent down 31 overs without any success, Shaheen Afridi broke the rut by handing Pakistan their sixth breakthrough, and accelerating Australia’s late-order crumble. The lead had crossed the 300 run-mark, and Labuschagne was building up another partnership, this time with Paine, when Afridi struck twice in two overs.

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He first sent back Paine, who ended up inside-edging a pull stroke onto his thigh pad, with the ball ballooning to second slip. Off the second ball of his next over, he ended Labuschagne’s dream on 185; a slower ball deceived the batsman, who ended up handing an easy catch to backward point. The over ended as a wicket maiden, and kickstarted Australia’s lower-order collapse: from 506-4, they folded for 580.

Starc sets the tone

0.1, Starc to Masood, no run; Pak 0-0

Having spent considerable time fetching leather, Pakistan’s openers started their second innings amid a dying sun and long shadows, and up against a fully charged Mitchell Starc. His very first delivery of the innings was a statement of sorts; it sprang off the surface and thwacked Shan Masood on the thigh. Masood grimaced in pain as he walked away from the scene, and the camera panned towards Starc, who had a wry, condescending smile on his face.

Pakistan’s batsmen seemed to be rooted to the crease thereafter. It took Starc little time to remove skipper Azhar Ali and Haris Sohail off consecutive overs. Pat Cummins further dented Pakistan by extracting Asad Shafiq. Masood and Babar Azam saw Pakistan through to the end of the day, despite a few close shaves.

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