DAY TWO of the New Year’s Test was brought to a premature end at the SCG yesterday, with rain and bad light halting play as Australia progressed through its first batting inning. The hosts remain 197 runs in arrears at 2-116, with play set to resume half-an-hour early this morning on day three.

Marnus Labuschagne (23) and Steve Smith (6) remain at the crease after Pakistan managed to remove both Australian openers yesterday. In potentially his final dig at Test level, David Warner was dismissed for 34 off 68 deliveries having been woefully dropped in the slip cordon on just 20.

A relatively slow opening session picked up towards its end, with the local opening pair injecting energy and runs to their side’s response. Salman Ali Agha provided Pakistan with the breakthrough though, nicking Warner off with just his third ball to break the promising partnership at 70.

Australia moved from 1-78 to 2-116 in the middle session, with Khawaja also falling to Aamir Jamal for 47. The 25,000 strong crowd was arguably more disappointed, though, when umpires marshalled players off the field under floodlights, only for rain to set in soon after to see play called off just before 4:30pm.

The Sydney Test match is the last in a three-game series between the two nations, which Australia leads 2-0 after wins in Perth and Melbourne. Despite the unassailable lead, the match is far from a dead rubber in the context of the next World Test Championship, for which each result matters.

Things hang in the balance with Pakistan showcasing fighting spirit and skill in phases where Australia could easily have taken total control. Should the visitors hold onto their chances and avoid any great collapse in their second batting inning, they remain in with a shot of spoiling Warner’s farewell.

>> Day 1 recap: Pakistan fights in first innings dig

SCORECARD

STUMPS, DAY TWO

TOSS: Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat.

1ST INNINGS: Pakistan 10-313 (77.1)
Mohammad Rizwan 88 (103), Aamir Jamal 82 (97), Salman Ali Agha 53 (67)
Pat Cummins 5-61 (18), Mitchell Starc 2-75 (16), Mitch Marsh 1-27 (7)

2ND INNINGS: Australia 2-116 (47)
Usman Khawaja 47 (143), David Warner 34 (68), Marnus Labuschagne 23* (66)
Salman Ali Agha 1-18 (8), Aamir Jamal 1-26 (8), Mir Hamza 0-11 (10)

DAY TWO PROGRESSION:
Australia 0-6 > 2-116, adding 2-110.

Australia trails by 197 runs with 8 wickets in hand.