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The stage is set for David Warner to be the hero on his last day as a Test cricketer.
A three-wicket over from Josh Hazlewood late on day three has put Australia in the box seat to send Warner out a winner at the SCG on Saturday.
Pakistan will resume at 7-68 with a lead of 82 runs on a wicket that is playing more tricks than David Copperfield.
If the Australians can get Mohammad Rizwan or Aamir Jamal early, Warner’s final Test innings won’t be far away.
Follow all the live action from day four below.
9.30AM: GLORIOUS SUNSHINE FOR WARNER DAY 2.0
Hello from the SCG where it is a beautiful sunny day, with the ground starting to fill up with an expectant crowd hoping for a dream David Warner farewell.
Australia finished day three in extraordinary fashion, ripping the guts out of Pakistan’s middle order and putting their victory plans firmly on ice.
Josh Hazlewood’s triple-wicket maiden was the cherry on top of a staggering final session in which Australia, firstly, conceded a 14-run first-innings lead and then ran riot thereafter – reducing Pakistan to 7-68 at stumps in a frenetic final hour.
What will happen today? Well, the pitch quickly transitioned from ‘bowlers’ graveyard’ to ‘complete minefield’ at some point yesterday, so anything could happen.
Pakistan holds an 82-run lead and will do everything within their power to stretch that, with their final three wickets, to a target of 150.
After which it will be Australia’s chance to chase a clean sweep and the ideal Warner send off.
We’ll be here all the way.
9:00AM THE SUN SHINES OVER THE SCG – FOR NOW!
With just a bit over an hour before play starts, the sun is out and the SCG is looking a picture.
The forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology is for a cloudy day with just a 20 per cent chance of rain over Sydney so we will get a result today … guaranteed!
HAZLEWOOD SETS IDEAL TARGET FOR TRICKY CHASE
— Tim Michell
Josh Hazlewood has set a target of bowling Pakistan out with a lead of less than 130 as Australia looks to clinch a 3-0 series victory on day four at the SCG.
The match situation could not be set up more perfectly for David Warner, who is all but certain to play his last Test innings on Saturday.
Pakistan crashed from 2-58 to 7-68 in a chaotic finish to the third day as Hazlewood took three wickets in an over after Travis Head and Nathan Lyon exposed the visitors’ soft underbelly.
“As we have seen with the wicket, it’s quite tough. Under 100 would be outstanding but anything under 130 I think would be ideal,” Hazlewood told Fox Cricket.
Hazlewood said Warner would be “obviously key” to Australia’s chances of capping a hard-fought series in style.
“He’s always nice in these sort of chases to get a quick 40 or 50 and really blunt the attack straight away as we have seen for the best part of 10 or 12 years now. He’s obviously key in that chase,” he said.
Just don’t expect Pat Cummins to call on Warner for a bowl.
“Maybe at 10 and 11 if we have got them in together,” Hazlewood said.
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