Sydney - David Warner smashed the second fastest 50 in Test
history to give Australia a flying start in their chase for runs and a
declaration on the fourth day of the third Test against Pakistan on Friday.
At tea, the home team had stretched its lead to 340 runs at
117 for one, with makeshift opener Usman Khawaja on 30 and skipper Steve Smith
not out 25.
The explosive Warner hit leg-spinner Yasir Khan for six,
six, four, four in the fourth over of the innings, and then clouted Imran Khan
for four consecutive boundaries in the seventh over.
His breathless half-century came off 23 balls with seven
fours and three sixes and was the second fastest in Test history after Pakistan
skipper Misbah-ul-Haq's 21 balls against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
But Warner perished when he missed in a lusty swing and was bowled by Wahab Riaz for 55 off 27 balls.
Younis Khan was left unconquered on 175 as Pakistan lost
their last two wickets in an hour's play post-lunch after rain washed out the
first session.
Younis was dropped on 141 by wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who
got his right glove to the chance but could not cling on, much to bowler
Mitchell Starc's annoyance.
Wade was forced off during Thursday's play with a stomach
illness but returned to the game on Friday.
Yasir gave Smith his ninth catch of the series when he was
picked up in the slips off Josh Hazlewood for 10 before Imran Khan was bowled
two balls later for a duck.
Younis remained unbeaten off 334 balls with 18 fours and
three sixes, and was given a big ovation from the SCG crowd as he left the
ground after his 34th Test century.
The tourists on 315 finished 223 runs in arrears, but
skipper Smith did not enforce the follow-on.
He sought to give his bowlers a rest and let his batsmen put
more wear into the SCG pitch for a fourth innings push for victory over the
concluding sessions of play.
Hazlewood finished with four wickets for 55 and spinner
Nathan Lyon captured three for 115.
Paceman Mohammad Amir did not return to the field for Pakistan in Australia's second innings after going for a scan for a possible side strain.