Melbourne: Skipper Steve Smith (100 batting, 168b, 9×4) scored his 17th Test century to give Australia a 22-run lead over Pakistan as rain again disrupted play on the fourth day of the second Test here Thursday at the MCG.
Smith reached his fourth Test hundred of the year before a storm lashed the Melbourne Cricket Ground just before tea and forced the rest of the fourth day’s play to be abandoned with Australia’s score standing at 465 for six. Giving Smith company, was Mitchell Starc (seven batting). It is unlikely there will be a result in the Test with just Friday’s final day to play.
Smith passed 1,000 runs in a calendar year for the third time in a row during his knock, taking his 2016 total to 1,040 at 67.60.
Usman Khawaja (97) could only add two runs to his overnight total before being dismissed early in the day. This is the second time this season that the Pakistan-born batsman has been dismissed on 97. He edged Wahab Riaz to wicket-keeper Sarfraz Ahmed in the day’s fifth over.
The Australians lost the wickets of under-pressure pair Nic Maddinson (22) and Matthew Wade (9) in the middle session. However, Peter Handscomb (54, 90b, 8×4) claimed his third half century in three Tests to push along the Australian scoring.
He was dropped off a sharp caught-and-bowled chance by Mohammad Amir on 51, but three runs later he found Sami Aslam at point off Sohail Khan.
Agence France-Presse
