Aamer Jamal leads Pakistan's fightback in Sydney Test

Pakistan continued to defy expectations as they once again took the fight to the Australian camp, posting a respectable 313 on the opening day of the third Test in Sydney on Wednesday.

Australia captain Pat Cummins did take 5-61, but it was the visitors who ended the day's play happier as they stood up to the world champions for the second straight match, having pushed the hosts close all the way in Melbourne.

Pakistan were without pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, who had been rested for the match with seemingly more important T20 assignments coming up.

That had further depleted a meagre bowling attack, which meant the batsmen had almost no cushion. And they had a horror start as Pakistan lost both openers without scoring.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood set the tone by each taking a wicket in the first two overs, before Cummins, coming off a ten-wicket haul in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, snared two wickets including the main scalp of Babar Azam as Pakistan crumbled.

Starc (2-75) struck with the second ball, teasing Abdullah Shafique into an uncontrolled drive that resulted in an edge to Steve Smith at second slip.

Hazlewood (1-65) struck in the next over when he had Saim Ayub edging through to Alex Carey in his debut innings.

CRICKET-AUS-PAK

From 4-2, Azam and captain Shan Massood started rebuilding the innings, with the former especially attacking the Aussie quick bowlers.

But the rally was short-lived as Cummins removed Azam (26) with a ball that came back at the right-hander and struck him on the pad. Umpire Michael Gough turned down the initial Australian appeal, but the TV umpire overturned the decision.

Saud Shakeel was Cummins' second wicket, edging behind to Carey to leave Pakistan's innings in tatters