Steve Smith has edged within three runs of his third Test century of 2014 as he leads Australia’s unlikely bid to hold on for a draw in the second Test against Pakistan.
Set a gigantic target of 603 to win on a pitch which assists the spinners, Australia resumed on 4-143 and reached 5-238 at lunch.
Smith is unbeaten on 97 while wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is 13 not out despite a badly bruised shoulder.
Mitchell Marsh, in his second Test match, added 107 for the fifth wicket with Smith.
The 23-year-old Marsh hit 47 off 130 deliveries, completing a strong match with the bat after top-scoring with 87 in Australia’s first innings of 261.
Marsh was caught at leg slip off the bowling of offspinner Mohammad Hafeez.
Quick on his feet and wearing the baggy green cap in the style of the early-1970s era, Smith has been Australia’s most watchable player against spin in the series.
Coach and selector Darren Lehmann says it will be a great achievement if Smith can rescue Australia from a two-nil series defeat.
Lehmann admitted on Sunday night that Australia had been totally outplayed again, after their 221-run loss in the first Test in Dubai.
“We’ve got to get to the drawing board and make it right,” he said.
A defeat on Monday would mean a 2-0 loss in the United Arab Emirates after going down 4-0 away to India in 2013.
Australia’s record of one win in 15 Tests in Asia since Shane Warne’s 2007 retirement is set to become even worse after another embarrassing day in Abu Dhabi.
Australia lost the early wickets of Chris Rogers (two), Glenn Maxwell (four) and Michael Clarke (five) to the left-arm spin of Zulfiqar Babar.
Australia’s master batsman Clarke has made only 57 runs at 14.25 series.
David Warner hit 58, scoring 239 runs at 59.75 in the series.
Warner, Australia’s only century-maker so far in the series, says the Abu Dhabi pitch is holding up well.
“It looks hard. It looks like it is going to break up and just doesn’t,” Warner said.
“We see Babar’s getting a bit of turn and he’s got us in a bit of trouble at the moment.”
Sixth-ranked Pakistan can jump three places in the ICC Test rankings if they beat second-ranked Australia two-nil.
