Younis slams century, Australia in charge

SYDNEY: Pakistan’s Younis Khan notched his 34th Test century but Australia had reduced the tourists to 271 for eight, still 68 runs short of avoiding the follow-on, at close of play on the rain-disrupted third day of the third Test on Thursday. The 39-year-old reached the milestone for the first time in Australia in the hour after tea to complete his career set of centuries in each of the Test-playing nation. He was unbeaten on 136 at stumps alongside tail-ender Yasir Shah (five not out) but Australia will be confident of securing a 3-0 series sweep with a lead of 267 on the back of their first innings 538-8 declared. “Hopefully, (the wicket) will start playing some tricks,” Australia bowling coach David Saker said. “I would assume that we will go out and have another bat and put some more wear in the wicket and have a bowl in the last day and a bit.” Persistent rain sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean had prevented Pakistan from resuming on 126-2 until four hours after the scheduled start at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Younis had forged a 120-run third-wicket stand with Azhar Ali to stall Australia on Wednesday and the home side were desperate to make a breakthrough once play eventually got under way. — Reuters Scoreboard Australia first innings 538-8 decl Pakistan first innings (126-2 overnight) A Ali run out (Starc) 71 S Khan c Renshaw b Hazlewood 4 B Azam lbw Hazlewood 0 Y Khan not out 136 Misbah-ul-Haq c sub (Bird) b Lyon 18 A Shafiq c Smith b O’Keefe 4 S Ahmed c sub (Bird) b Starc 18 M Amir c Warner b Lyon 4 W Riaz b Lyon 8 Y Shah not out 5 Extras (b3) 3 Total (8 wickets, 95 overs) 271 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-6, 3-152, 4-178, 5-197, 6-239, 7-244, 8-264 Bowling: Starc 21-5-65-1, Hazlewood 25-7-53-2, O’Keefe 18-3-37-1, Lyon 27-2-98-3, Cartwright 4-0-15-0