Azhar Ali achieved a milestone of 7,000 runs before Pakistan reached 227-3 at tea on the third day of the third and deciding Test against Australia in Lahore on Wednesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the break, skipper Babar Azam was unbeaten on 42 and Fawad Alam five. The home team trail Australia's first-innings total of 391 by 164 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia were once again sloppy in the field as Steve Smith failed to catch Azam off-spinner Nathan Lyon when Pakistan's dangerman was on 20.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan, resuming at 90-1, reached 159 at lunch without losing any more wickets but the second session saw Australia dismiss Abdullah Shafique (81) and Azhar (78) in the space of 44 runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Lyon got rid of in-form Shafique in the fifth over after lunch when he forced an edge for wicketkeeper Alex Carey to take the catch.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Umpire Aleem Dar ruled not out but skipper Pat Cummins successfully reviewed the decision in Australia's favour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Shafique, who hit a century in the drawn first Test in Rawalpindi, batted for 323 minutes, hitting 11 boundaries.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Azhar, who put on an invaluable 150-run stand for the second wicket with Shafique, completed 7,000 runs in his 94th Test when he reached 74.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He is the 54th batsman and fifth from Pakistan to score 7,000-plus runs in Test cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia took the second new ball after 80 overs with the total on 191-2 and seven overs later Cummins held on to a sharp caught-and-bowled chance to dismiss Azhar.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Azhar batted for 337 minutes, hitting seven boundaries and a six in his 35th Test half-century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the morning session, Australia toiled hard and could have had some reward in the last over before lunch when Azhar, on 62, edged leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, but Smith at slip failed to hold on to the sharp chance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia's first Test series in Pakistan for 24 years because of security fears has been marred by flat pitches where the bat has dominated the ball.<\/p>\r\n\r\n