Usman Khawaja fell agonisingly short of a hundred but Australia’s top order powered them to 271 for two in reply to Pakistan’s total of 476 for four declared on day three of the opening test on Sunday.
David Warner made 68 and Marnus Labuschagne was on 69 when bad light followed by rain stopped play with Australia’s top three posting half-centuries in the bat-dominated contest.
Steve Smith will also be hopeful of converting the start he got into a big knock when he resumes on 24 on Monday.
