Usman Khawaja says the final-day pitch in Lahore will be more difficult to score on than the one in Karachi last week
Pakistan eye victory after Australia's 'brave' declaration
Pakistan have labelled Australia's second-innings declaration in the third and final Test as "brave" and "bold", but Usman Khawaja says he's unconcerned by the prospect of the home side replicating their fifth-day batting heroics from Karachi and sealing a historic series win.
Pakistan require a further 278 on the fifth and final day in Lahore to claim the Benaud-Qadir Trophy after being set a target of 351, and will need to score at a touch more than three runs an over on Friday to win.
Pat Cummins's declaration early in the final session on Thursday at 3-227 left Australia with 120 overs to bowl Pakistan out and win the series 1-0.
The hosts survived for 172 overs to force a draw in the second Test, making 7-443 in the fourth innings and at one stage looking an outside chance of chasing down a total of 506 to win.
Openers Imam-ul-Haq (42 no) and Abdullah Shafique (27 no) will resume on Friday at 0-73 as Pakistan attempt to pull off their biggest run chase on home soil.
If Pakistan are successful, it would comfortably top the 1994 team's effort in scoring 314 against Mark Taylor's Australia in Karachi.
But Khawaja, who understands the pace and nuances of the Lahore pitch better than anyone having compiled a match double of 91 and 104 not out, said Australia have the edge heading into day five.
"It's going to be very hard to bat on the last day," he said.
"I batted out there today, and the wicket is starting to roll. Once the ball gets soft, if we can get it reversing like we did in the first innings and like Pakistan have done all game, we're right in this contest.
"It's really, really hard to score against the pace bowlers. Our pace bowlers will probably bowl a bit more tomorrow, and when they do the scoreboard will shut down.
"I'm not really too worried about Pakistan chasing the total. I mean it's very possible – anything's possible – but if we bowl consistently well it's a very hard wicket to actually push the scoreboard moving forward.
"As soon as you try, the wicket - there's a lot of cracks running through it. Today Nath (Lyon) and the (other) spinners were all spinning it a fair bit, there's rough on both sides of the wicket.
"Day-five wicket, I feel like this is a tougher type of wicket than what Karachi was.
"Fingers crossed if we do everything right tomorrow, we could be right in with a sniff to win this Test match.
"If Pakistan can win this Test match, then hats off to them. But I'm looking forward to the fifth day, it's what you want Test cricket to be. All opportunities are remaining – Pakistan winning, us winning, the draw.
"It's a good place to be."
Following their fourth-innings heroics in Karachi, led by a defiant 196 from in-form skipper Babar Azam, Pakistan say they will be looking to defy history and will target the victory on Friday instead of looking to play for a draw.
Pakistan's batting coach Mohammad Yousuf also admitted surprise at the timing of Australia's declaration shortly after tea.
"It is a brave decision without any doubt," Yousuf said.
"We felt maybe they would play few overs more and play until (a lead of) 380, but they declared earlier.
"It is a bold step and we will try our best to win this match.
"Our first priority will be to win the match and play good cricket session by session and get a good grip on the match."
In addition to last week's finish in Karachi, recent history may weigh heavily on the Australians should Pakistan make a bright start on day five.
Australia have failed to bowl out their opponents on the fifth day in four of their past nine Tests; three of those occasions – against both India and England at the SCG and Pakistan in Karachi – yielded draws, while the fourth brought a win for India, who chased down 329 in Brisbane in January 2021.
But Khawaja said Cummins declared at the right time as he looked to balance the need to extend Australia's lead, and the desire to leave us much time as possible to take 10 wickets.
"We'll find out tomorrow (but) personally, I think we declared at the right time," Khawaja said.
"I'm always of the belief you want to leave yourself more time and not run out of time, rather than trying to be too worried about them scoring the runs.
"They started well today, they played really well but it's not easy out there and they have to do it again for the whole 90 overs.
"I think looking at the run rates through the whole Test match, it's been very hard to push the run rate forward this Test match.
"They've still got high 200s to chase, so it's not going to be easy out there either way.
"If you can apply enough pressure, take a few wickets anything can happen. But I still believe we're in a very good position."
Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood.
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner.
First Test: Match drawn
March 12-16: Match drawn
March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore
Pakistan ODI and T20 squad: Babar Azam (c), Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique*, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq*, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Saud Shakeel*, Shaheen Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani, Usman Qadir (*ODIs only)
Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
March 29: First ODI, Lahore
March 31: Second ODI, Lahore
April 2: Third ODI, Lahore
April 5: Only T20I, Lahore
All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports