PAK vs AUS | 3rd Test: Cummins, Starc steal the show with swing and pace on Day 3

Day 3 of the ongoing 3rd Test match between Pakistan and Australia at Lahore ended with Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali taking the hosts to safety with an overnight score of 90. The two batted well to keep their wickets intact after the early loss of Imam-ul-Haq's wicket. 

The 3rd day of the Test kicked off in a jubilant tone as Pakistan celebrated their 'Resolution Day'. The hosts dominated the first session of the day as Shafique and Ali ensured that there were no wickets conceded to the Aussie bowlers in the morning spell. 

By Lunch on Day 3, the overnight batters put on 69 runs. The visitors' had some thinking to do for making inroads into the Pakistan lineup on what appeared to be another docile surface. After the lunch break, Nathan Lyon finally ended Shafique's vigil at the crease after a successful review taken by captain Pat Cummins for a caught behind. 

The opener did well for his 81 runs to occupy the crease for 228 deliveries, scoring 11 boundaries. Along with Azhar at the other end, he added a precious 150-run stand for the second wicket. 

In came Pakistan captain Babar Azam in red-hot form, who received a grand reception from the crowd at Gaddafi Stadium. Meanwhile, Ali brought up his 7000th Test run and looked all set to bring up another ton in red-ball cricket. 

However, the second new ball did the trick for the Pakistan number-three batsman. Captain Cummins came back for another spell with the new cherry and it took a moment of brilliance to dislodge Azhar from the crease. Cummins took a spectacular catch off his bowling to see the back of Ali, batting on 78. 

It looked like Babar was batting on another surface as he took his team to Tea with just two casualties in the post-lunch session, where they added just 68 runs.

The day's highlight was the 3rd and the final session, where the Australian bowlers ran-riot with their swing and pace. 

Cummins and Mitchell Starc were the wreckers-in-chief as they shared eight wickets among themselves. Pak batters had no answer to the reverse-swing generated by the Aussie duo as they were bundled out for just 268. Before the loss of Azhar Ali's wicket, the hosts were cruising at 214-2, inflicting a massive batting collapse. 

The number-one ranked bowler of the world was the star of the show as he scalped his 7th five-wicket haul in his career. The Aussie could only face three overs as Stumps were called on Day 3, with the score reading 11/0. The travellers now have another sumptuous lead of 134 runs, with all their wickets intact in the second innings and a couple of exciting days to go.