PAK vs AUS | 3rd Test | Day 4: Pakistan openers solid after Australia set hosts 351 to win in Lahore

Pakistan opening pair of Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq added 73 unbeaten runs for the first wicket in the final session to set up what should be an intriguing fifth day of the Lahore Test.

Having been set a target of 351 on a slow, turgid pitch, the opening duo ensured that the home did not lose any early wicket on the fourth evening.

This happened after Australian skipper Pat Cummins made a bold declaration on the fourth afternoon, bringing an end to the visitors' second innings at 227/3.

Once again, the Pakistan-born Australian opener Usman Khawaja continued to pile on the agony of the home side as he peeled off yet another century- his second of the series to go with a couple of 90 plus scores.

The tone for an adventurous declaration was set by Khawaja and his opening partner, David Warner, early on Day 04, as the duo blunted the Pakistani attack without facing anything significant problems.

While the Pakistani bowlers focussed on bowling wicket-to-wicket on a pretty slow, benign surface at the Gadaffi Stadium, the Australians were ruthless whenever the bowlers erred slightly in their line.

Warner racked up his second 50 plus score of the series following an acceleration when he was in the 40s. The blistering opener started the day by smashing three boundaries off Shaheen Afridi but settled down to play with caution.

He did receive a slice of luck at the score of 16 when any fielder didn't spot a thin outside edge off his willow. However, the replays clearly showed that Warner did get a big edge, much to the dismay of Hasan Ali.

Khawaja, too, was lucky on 31 when Naseem Shah bowled him, only for it to be a no-ball. He also survived a close leg-before call when the replays confirmed that the southpaw had got a thin outside edge.

Warner got past his fifty with a reverse-sweep six off Nauman Ali. The duo went on to add 96 runs for the 1st wicket before Afridi knocked over Warner with a leach of an away going delivery for 51.

Marnus Labuschagne also enjoyed his fair share of luck as Nauman Ali shelled his catch when the right-hander was trying to take the attack to the spinners.

He eventually settled down and, along with Khawaja, added another 65 runs. Khawaja faced a few nervy moments when the pacers got a few deliveries to keep low, but the Pakistani-born cricketer overcame that to peel off yet another memorable ton.

Ali eventually dismissed Marnus for 36 while Naseem Shah, who was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan, sent back Steve Smith for a 27-ball 17.

However, Smith did make his outing a memorable one as he became the fastest to score 8000 Test runs in history.

Australia eventually declared at the score of 227/3, leaving Pakistan close to 120 overs to chase down the target of 351.