A SUPERB innings from Mitch Marsh turned what looked to be a collapse for the ages, into a commanding lead heading into day four. After bowling Pakistan out for 264, Australia lost four wickets in quick succession to be on the ropes, before Marsh’s 96 helped steer the home side to a 241-run lead with four wickets in hand.

It was a rollercoaster of emotions for the Australians, who returned to the field needing four more wickets to head back to the crease, while Pakistan required another 124 runs to draw level. After a 45-run partnership between Mohammad Rizwan (42 off 51) and Aamir Jamal (33 not out off 80), Pat Cummins claimed the vital wicket for an early breakthrough.

Though Jamal battled on bravely, he had few partners willing to stick around, and Nathan Lyon and Cummins wrapped up the tail with the last four wickets falling for 49 runs. Cummins’ 5-48 was the performance of the first innings, running at a low 2.4 economy rate. Lyon (4-73) was the other key wicket-taker as the pair did all the damage.

Australia’s confidence would have been high after heading into bat with a 54-run lead. That confidence was crushed in just the second ball when Shaheen Afridi struck with a fast ball catching an outside edge of Usman Khawaja and it sailed into the hands of Rizwan.

Two overs later, Afridi and Rizwan were at it again with the new ball, taking out the other danger man in Marnus Labuschagne with a glancing inside edge in the final ball before before lunch. Unfortunately, things did not get any better for the Aussies after lunch as Mir Hamza claimed back-to-back wickets and set up a potential hattrick by taking down David Warner (six off 16) and Travis Head (golden duck) leaving the home side stranded at 4-16.

At that point, Australia was essentially 4-70 and all of a sudden, Pakistan was firmly in control. Enter Marsh who had other plans and decided to step up when those around him were falling cheaply. Teaming up with Steve Smith, the pair whacked away at a massive 153-run partnership, with Marsh scoring 96. Just as it looked like he would achieve the ton, Hamza struck with another inside edge, guided into the hands of Salman Ali Agha.

Smith would last another 18 runs, gone with the final ball of the day, but reaching his half century. Albeit, it came at the second slowest rate through his career, needing 176 balls to reach the mark. Alex Carey was left not out after the end of day three, having scored 16 off 42 and the Australian lead was out to a 241-run lead with four wickets remaining.

Hamza (3-27 off 16 overs) and Afridi (3-58 off 18.3 overs) were the two wicket takers, with Australia at 6-187 at stumps. Carey will return to the crease likely alongside Mitchell Starc in the morning, as the home nation looks to set up the victory via a wagging tail. The record fourth innings run chase at the MCG is 332, with Australia just needing 91 more runs to force Pakistan to make history.