Khawaja and Marsh help Australia survive Pakistan's pace attack and spicy pitch to build 400-run lead in 1st Test
Hindustan TimesAustralia battled through Pakistan's best bowling of the match and a treacherous Perth pitch before Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh counterattacked to lift the hosts to 186-4 at lunch, and a commanding lead of 402 runs, on the fourth day of the series opening cricket test. Steve Smith and teammate Usman Khawaja wait for an LBW decision against Smith on day four of the first Test cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Perth Resuming Sunday at 84-2, Australia lost Steven Smith and Travis Head in the first hour of the day as Pakistan's bowlers took advantage of the variable bounce and movement offered by the deterioriating Perth pitch to frequently trouble Australia's batters. Fellow debutant Aamer Jamal, who took 6-111 in Australia's first innings of 487, got Head for the second time as Australia's one-day international World Cup star holed out to Imam-ul-Haq at mid-off for 14. On Saturday's third day, Smith and Khawaja helped Australia overcome an early stutter at 5-2 to reach a watchful 84-2 at stumps for an overall lead of 300 runs after Pakistan had collapsed to 271 all out at the stroke of tea to concede a 216-run lead.