Pakistan need 278 runs, Australia want 10 wickets on day five

Pakistan started confidently Thursday in pursuit of a 351-run target in the series-deciding third Test against Australia, ending on 73 without loss at the close in Lahore.

Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Abdullah Shafique were unbeaten on 42 and 27 respectively, leaving the home team needing another 278 runs in 90 overs, with all 10 wickets intact when play resumes on Friday.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins declared their second innings at 227-3 shortly after tea, a bold decision considering Pakistan managed 443-7 in pursuit of 506 runs to draw last week’s Karachi Test.

The highlight of Australia’s innings was an unbeaten 104 by in-form opener Usman Khawaja, and Smith becoming the fastest man to 8,000 Test runs.

Khawaja got a reprieve when Naseem Shah bowled him on 31 off a no-ball, he scored 496 runs in the series.

Smith also had a memorable day, driving pacer Hasan Ali to cover boundary to complete 8,000 runs in his 151st innings of his 85th Test, beating Kumar Sangakkara’s record of doing it in 152.

Australia added 112 runs in the two sessions for the loss of David Warner (51) and Labuschagne (36) as they looked for quick runs to press for a victory.

Khawaja put on 123 for the opening wicket with Warner and then another 65 with Labuschagne, who holed out to Nauman after hitting six boundaries.

Warner reached his 34th Test half-century before left-armer Shaheen uprooted his off-stump with a quicker delivery that seamed away.