Josh Hazlewood sparks Pakistan collapse to reclaim momentum for Australia on day three

Josh Hazlewood has opened the door for Australia to claim a 3-0 series whitewash after a triple-wicket maiden ripped the heart out of Pakistan late on day three in the third Test at the SCG.

The tourists went to stumps at 68-7, a lead of 82, on a rollicking Friday in which 15 wickets fell and both sides enjoyed spells in control.

Australia will still have to bat last on a SCG wicket that is wearing quickly, but are clearly on top after Hazlewood reached the close with figures of 4-9.

With Pakistan still holding some hope at 4-67 late in the day, the 32-year-old quick ran through what had previously been a gutsy and resilient touring team.

Brought back to bowl one over late in the day, Hazlewood had Saud Shakeel [two] caught at slip from the first ball of his spell and then bowled Sajid Khan for a duck.

By the time he had a scoreless Agha Salman edging the fifth ball of his over to David Warner at first slip, Pakistan were a crushed team.

The wickets came after Hazlewood had earlier claimed the key scalp of Shan Masood for a golden duck, caught behind to leave Pakistan 1-2 early in their innings.

Mitchell Starc handed opener Abdullah Shafique a pair of ducks for the match, bowling him with the ball of the Test that swung and seamed back between bat and pad.

Said Ayub [33] and Babar Azam [23] offered the sole resistance for Pakistan, but their dismissals to Nathan Lyon and Travis Head late opened the door for Hazlewood’s magic spell.

Frustratingly for Pakistan, they had been the better team for the majority of Friday.

While Marnus Labuschagne [60] and Mitch Marsh [54] worked Australia towards parity, the tourists took 10-5 late in the innings to establish a 14-run lead.

In doing so, they became the first touring team to claim a first-innings advantage in Australia since India in the 2020 Boxing Day Test.

Australia’s wickets fell in clumps, losing 18-3 either side of lunch after Steve Smith [38] and Labuschagne put on 79 for the third wicket.

Marsh and Alex Carey [38] had a stand of 84 for the sixth wicket, with the former’s half-century his sixth score above 50 since his return to the side six months ago.

While Marsh has become known for his brute power and thundering drives since his return, Friday’s innings was more circumspect.

He had a life on seven when debutant Ayub was caught flat-footed at mid-off just after lunch, then had an lbw call overturned on 31.

Otherwise he played with confidence, with his most imposing shot a boundary through cover off paceman Mir Hamza.

But when Carey was bowled on the last ball before tea with a Sajid Khan ball that brushed the leg bail after coming off his hip, the game turned and Australia collapsed quickly.

Marsh hit Aamir Jamal straight to cover after tea, before the Pakistan quick rolled through the tail to finish with 6-69.

In doing so, Aamir again confirmed his status as one of the finds of the tour for Pakistan.

But after Hazlewood’s work late on Friday, it’s likely the tourists will leave Australia next week without a win.