Twitter Reactions: Australia in driver's seat after Pakistan collapse in Lahore

The third day’s play comprised of an excellent climax as the Australian quicks created a lot of damage against the Pakistan batting lineup. The latter’s top-order had given a great foundation to take a big lead in the first innings, but instead, it was Australia who had the laugh last on the day as they picked up four quick wickets towards the end.

Earlier in the day, the host nation started at 90/1 with Abdullah Shafique and Azhar Ali at the crease and they continued their good partnership in the middle, with both the batters getting past their half-centuries. After almost grinding out for 60 overs, their partnership came to an end as Shafique faltered at 81 against the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon. Ali and skipper Babar Azam stuck together with another small partnership of 44 to keep the innings going.

Cummins finally managed to get the wicket of Ali for an excellent 78 while Starc started steaming in from the end. The left-arm quick got through the defences of Fawad Alam and Mohammad Rizwan. Whole Azam reached his half-century, he ran out out of partners eventually. In the end, Pakistan lost all four wickets without the scoreboard moving, and conceded a lead of 123 runs in the first innings, thanks to a brilliant spell of bowling from Cummins and Starc.

Cummins ended up with a five-wicket haul while Starc picked up four wickets to his name. With just three more over left before the end of the day, the Australian openers came out to bat and saw it through until the end without losing any wicket. Usman Khawaja (7*) and David Warner (4*) are at the crease with the total lead of 134 runs, and they will be hoping to build on that with two more days to go in the Test.

Here’s how Twitter reacted after the end of day’s play: