Bowlers to the fore as wickets tumble in SCG avalanche

SUMMARY: With Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith at the crease, Australia were poised for a big day of batting, but Pakistan, bowling 33 dot balls in a row early in the day, ensured the script never quite went to plan. Labuschagne and Smith fell within six balls of one another to swing the game on to an even keel just before lunch. Mitch Marsh was the only other Australian to make a significant mark, reaffirming his status as the side's form batter this series with a fourth half-century from five innings. But he clipped Aamir Jamal to mid-off in a collapse of 5-10 either side of tea that left the hosts 14 runs behind at the innings break. Aamir, playing only his third Test, had his fingerprints all over the late Pakistani comeback and has now taken the wicket of every player in the Australian XI at some point this series. But his heroics were a distant memory after the Australian attack got going in reply on the turning SCG pitch. Mitch Starc and Hazlewood struck early to reduce the tourists to 2-1, before the latter piled on the pressure late as Pakistan lost three wickets without scoring in one Hazlewood over.

PLAYER OF THE MOMENT: Clinical quick Hazlewood put Australia within striking distance of a series whitewash, pouncing three times in the one over to leave Pakistan's hopes of a fairytale victory in tatters. After dismissing Shan Masood caught behind for a golden duck, he disposed of Saud Shakeel, would-be nightwatchman Sajid Khan and Agha Salman in the one over as long shadows fell over the SCG. His late efforts meant Pakistan were into the bowlers at stumps, reeling at the afternoon of carnage.

STAT OF THE DAY: In only his third Test match, Aamir Jamal became the first player since Michael Bevan in 1997 to take a six-wicket haul and score 80 or more runs in the same Test in Australia.