LAHORE: Australian captain Pat Cummins won the toss for the second time in a row and decided to bat first in the series decider between Pakistan and Australia. The hosts made early in-roads when Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne cheaply, reducing Australia to 8/2.
Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, much like the previous Test, batted together for nearly two sessions, putting on 138 for the fourth wicket partnership. Smith was dismissed by Naseem Shah who was the pick of the bowlers and kept reversing the ball at good pace throughout the day.
Khawaja soon followed Smith and edged a ball that turn sharply to Babar Azam at first slip. Khawaja carried on his supreme form from the previous game, falling just nine short of another century. Travis Head fell to Naseem who had troubled him the most. Australia are currently playing at 232/5.
