Pak vs Aus, 1st Test: Usman Khawaja fell 3 runs short of a memorable hundred in Rawalpindi

Australia came up with a strong batting display in response to Pakistan's first innings total of 476/4 declared on Day 3 of the historic Test in Rawalpindi. Usman Khawaja fell agonisingly short of a hundred, falling for 97 as Australia piled on 271 runs, getting to Stumps on Sunday, losing only 2 wickets.

David Warner, who has been enjoying his time in Rawalpindi, hit 68 while Marnus Labuschange was unbeaten on 69 at the end of the day's play. Bad light brought an early end to proceedings once again as Australia looked to make good use of the tiring Pakistan bowlers who bowled 72 overs on Sunday.

Steve Smith will also be hopeful of converting the start he got into a big knock when he resumes on 24 on Monday. Australia, on their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years, finished day three 205 behind but scored freely after resuming on five for no loss.

Star batter Usman Khawaja said Australia are hopeful of forcing a result despite the criticism over the slow nature of the pitch in Rawalpindi.

"Tomorrow is another big day for us. If we can bat well, keep scoring runs and give ourselves the opportunity, maybe force a result," Khawaja said on Sunday.

"We are 200 runs behind, there's a long way to go."

Khawaja, who made 97, could have been dismissed on 22 when Shaheen Afridi got the opener to drive away from his body but Fawad Alam spilled a straightforward catch at



gully.

It was a costly mistake on a flat track on which bowlers have struggled and only four wickets fell in the first two days.

The morning session also witnessed a little duel between Warner and Naseem Shah. Warner hit the fast bowler for two boundaries in an over and Naseem responded by bowling into the opener's body in his next.

Warner suffered a blow to his upper arm but laughed it off when Naseem gave him a stare and a piece of his mind.

Khawaja played a spectacular upper-cut against Naseem and took two runs off spinner Sajid Khan to bring up a breezy half-century.

Warner welcomed off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed into the attack by hitting him for three boundaries, the first bringing up his fifty.

The left-hander, who hit 12 boundaries, had his middle stump pegged back as he went on the back foot to play Sajid through the off-side and misjudged the line.

Islamabad-born Khawaja missed out on what could have been his third test hundred in five innings after fluffing a reverse sweep which otherwise had been a productive shot for the left-hander.

Umpire Aleem Dar had initially ruled the batsman not out but reversed the decision after replays confirmed the ball from Nauman Ali hit Khawaja's gloves before popping up to Imam-ul-Haq at forward short leg.

Labuschagne hit nine boundaries in his fluent unbeaten knock.