(Cricket News) Starting with Josh Hazlewood, the Pakistan pacers successfully maintained their first innings lead after limiting Australia to 299 in Sydney on Friday. However, the visiting side’s dressing room experienced a shift in mood by the end of the day, as the Australian bowlers, led by Josh Hazlewood, took seven wickets in the final session.

With Pakistan at four wickets down for 60, Josh Hazlewood further compounded their challenges in the penultimate over of the day. The right-arm seamer proceeded to dismiss Saud Shakeel, Sajid Khan, and Agha Salman in a maiden over – W,0,W,0,W,0. At the close of play, the scoreboard showed 68/7, with Pakistan holding a lead of 82 runs.

Josh Hazlewood, reflecting on his performance, shared with broadcasters, “I have had good luck with Shakeel in this series. On this wicket, we were attacking the stumps as much as Pakistan were doing. I have noticed in this game that when we are bowling with wobble seam, we were getting a lot out of the wicket. Starc kept it nice and full and was attacking. The best time of the day was when the ball got older; it’s not falling apart, but it’s doing quite a bit, it’s patchy in nature.

It was quite loud during the wickets, it was quite amazing. With a lead of 82, as you see the wicket, it’s quite tough. Anything around 130 would be ideal to chase. Rizwan is a dangerous player; hopefully, we will see the back of him early tomorrow.”

Despite their challenging position, Pakistan had faced a similar scenario on Day 1 of the Test, losing seven wickets at a score of 82. Aamer Jamal’s innings of 82 helped lift them to a total of 313. Having already secured the series 2-0, Australia aims for a clean sweep in Sydney to mark David Warner’s final Test with a victory. Warner had been dismissed for 34 in the first innings, where only Marnus Labuschagne surpassed the 50-run mark for the hosts.

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