Australia’s No.1 Test spinner Nathan Lyon has fought back from a wicketless start to the four-day game against Pakistan A with a more-damaging performance on day three.

Pakistan A reached 3-146 at tea on Friday and hold an overall lead of 178 runs with seven second-innings wickets in hand.

Offspinner Lyon bowled 19 overs for 68 runs in Pakistan A’s first innings and uncapped left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe led the way with 3-76.

While O’Keefe’s form has pleased coach and selector Darren Lehmann ahead of next week’s first Test in Dubai, Lyon’s 2-17 from 12 overs on Friday will also be a boost to the Australian camp.

Lyon made a double breakthrough in the fourth over after lunch on Friday, dismissing opener Shan Masood (19) and No.3 Israr Ullah (0) with consecutive balls.

Left-hander Masood edged a turning delivery from Lyon to substitute wicketkeeper Saqlain Haider.

UAE player Haider took the gloves for Australia on day three as Brad Haddin was rested.

Israr was lbw first ball to Lyon at 2-62 and the Australian was also involved in the run-out of opener Ahmed Shehzad for 59 after a fine piece of work in his follow-through.

Allrounder Mitchell Marsh bowled in the first two sessions on Friday in a bid to prove his fitness for a possible Test debut on Wednesday.

Marsh has recovered from a hamstring strain, suffered on September 30, which had initially raised fears the 22-year-old might not be fit for the Dubai Test.

In further good news for Australia, opener David Warner walked laps around the ground on Friday following his groin strain last week and also had a bat in the nets behind the oval.

Alex Doolan top-scored with 104 in Australia’s 8-273 on Thursday in reply to Pakistan A’s first innings of 8-305 from their allotted 90 overs.

Australia’s two-Test series against Pakistan starts in Dubai on Wednesday.