AUSTRALIA managed to bat out 66 overs on day one of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan, scoring 3-187 at stumps. Despite most of the day threatening to be called off due to the inclement weather, Victorians turned out in force with more than 60,000 people packing into the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the opening day’s play.

Given the uncertainty with the weather, Pakistan captain Shan Masood won the toss and opted to send Pat Cummings’ side to the crease. After Dave Warner was dropped early in the day’s play, the hard-hitting opener would go on to contribute 38 runs off 83 balls in a 90-run opening partnership with Usman Khawaja.

Just as it looked like the Aussie opening partnership would head into the lunch break unscathed, a great ball from Salmon Ali Agha found an edge which chipped to Babar Azam in slips and the Pakistan fielder took a comfortable catch.

After an economical first seven-over spell without a wicket, Hasan Ali grabbed the all-important second scalp of the day, dismissing Khawaja with a fast ball that landed perfectly in Agha’s hands at second slip. The Aussie opener had made 42 off 101 balls including five boundaries, and all of a sudden Pakistan had taken 2-18 and was back in the contest.

At 2-108, the Pakistan bowling attack looked pretty good when former Aussie captain Steve Smith stepped to the crease alongside Marcus Labuschagne. The pair would take its time getting its eye into the match, with the runs per over of the partnership dropping from 3.3 of the opening batsmen down to less than two.

After 75 balls, Aamer Jamal took the dangerous Smith’s wicket with his delivery being caught by Mohammad Rizwan upon DRS appeal having initially being given not out. Captain Masood was confident in his team and appealed with the choice being a masterstroke. The review showed a feint edge which sent Smith back to the sheds.

Labuschagne was joined by Travis Head as the home side headed into the first evening at 3-187. Labuschagne’s concentration and ability to remain at the crease through the challenging conditions was evident as he made it to 44 off 120 not out, spending three hours on the MCG. A relatively fresh Head would make it to 9 off 19 – including a boundary – to put up a late unbeaten partnership of 33.

Though even Head was not spared some stress, given a life in the last over with a dropped catch allowing him to remain unbeaten and ensure the home team did not drop a fourth wicket on day one.

All of Pakistan’s bowlers were economical, as four got in 14 overs ore more. Shaheen Afridi bowled 20 overs without a breakthrough, but finished with five maidens at an economy rate of 3.15. Mir Hamza‘s was just 1.8 with 0-27 off 15 and four maidens.

Ali and Jamal both bowled 14 overs and took a scalp, with the former the far more economical of the pair, recording 1-28 while the latter had 1-47. Agha stepped in to pick up Warner’s wicket in a three-over spell of 1-5.

Play resumes at 10am with Labuschagne chasing a half century, and Head batting alongside him with the Aussies hoping for less challenging weather conditions out on the pitch.