Smith, Starc bully Pakistan on fifth morning

Smith, Starc bully Pakistan on fifth morning

Steven Smith (165 not out) and Mitchell Starc (84 off 91 balls) bludgeoned their way to a record total at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), breaking a 79-year-old record as Australia declared on 624 for 8, with an overall lead of 181. Needing to bat out a little more than two sessions, the visitors lost Sami Aslam early, but Azhar Ali and Babar Azam took them to 6/1 for 1 at Lunch.

Pakistan's sloppiness and defeatist body language on the field was cue for the two Australian batsmen to play some audacious cricket. Smith and Starc added 154 runs for the seventh wicket at a strike rate of 5.37, during which Starc beat Andrew Symonds to the record for most sixes in an innings at the MCG (7).

The final day of a Test that had constantly been cut short by rain, began with the likelihood of ending in a draw, but the home side harboured other ideas. Starting with a lead of 22, both Starc and Smith made their intentions clear from the outset that they were looking to extend their lead as swiftly as possible.

Starc took a special liking for Yasir Shah, hitting the leggie for five sixes during his swashbuckling essay. Smith too exuded disdain as Pakistan, barring Mohammad Amir, looked a bit direction less early on. Yasir particularly was ineffective, and was taken apart by Starc. The visitors didn't do themselves any favours by being lax on the field. Against two batsmen who were looking for big hits at every opportunity, Misbah-ul-Haq brought part-time leggie Azhar Ali into the attack in an attempt to tempt the batsmen to make mistakes.

Misbah's plan nearly worked as Starc didn't connect an attempted six, and his shot was headed straight to Sohail Khan at long off. Unfortunately for the visitors, however, the fast bowler made a hash of a straightforward catching opportunity, giving Starc a reprieve on 51.

The No. 8 batsman looked to make the most of chance, and eyed his maiden Test century. But that was not to be, as Sohail redeemed himself by bouncing out the left-hander. Starc was surprised by the rising delivery but went ahead with a pull shot and was caught out by Asad Shafiq at deep square leg.

There was still no stopping Smith, who eased past the 150-run mark with a big six and was primed for a double century. The wickets of Starc followed by Nathan Lyon however prompted him to declare Australia's innings on 624 for 8, forcing Pakistan batsmen to negotiate an uneasy period of 15 minutes before Lunch.

Josh Hazlewood struck in his first over to remove Sami Aslam and put early pressure on the visitors. At Lunch, the equation was simple - 64 overs remain for either Australia to pick nine wickets and take a 2-0 lead or for Pakistan to bat and eke out a draw.