At the end of the day three of the first Test of two-match Test series between Pakistan and Australia at Dubai, the Australian late Test debutant Aaron Finch claimed that the game in Pakistan’s favour but they are still hoping to win the game.

Replying Pakistan’s 482-run first innings total, the Australian openers Usman Khawaja and the debutant Finch provided a brilliant start with the 142-run partnership. While Khawaja scored 85 runs, Finch scored 62 runs but once that partnership was broken the entire next batting line-up terribly collapsed.

None of the next Australian batsmen reached the 20-run marks while three batsmen failed to open their innings and only the vice-captain Mitchell Marsh (12) and lower-order batsman Peter Siddle (10) played the double-digit knocks. Australia was bundled out for just 202 runs as their 10 wickets fell for 60 runs while the debutant Pakistan off-spinner Bilal Asif bagged six wickets with the bowling figure of 21.3-7-36-6.

At the end of the day three, Pakistan was batting on 45/3 as they were leading by 325 runs over Australia.

After the day’s play, Finch said, “I thought the way we fought back at the end was a really good effort. It’s obviously not ideal to lose 10 for 60 through the middle and the last session, but we fought back really well. The game is firmly in Pakistan’s favour but we’re still going to fight hard and hopefully win a game of cricket still, if we bowl like we did yesterday and tonight.

“Yesterday even though they got 480 we were brilliant, we stuck at our guns, and also to get them three down tonight. It’s going to be tough to chase down a total or to keep them out but that’s our goal, to keep them out and if we get in that position, who knows?”

The Australian openers Usman Khawaja and the debutant Aaron Finch started well with the 142-run partnership. Khawaja (85) and Finch (62) both completed their half-centuries but Finch claimed the situation would be different and better for them if they could carry their innings longer.

Finch said about their innings, “It was nice to get a few in the middle, but I probably left us hanging only getting 60. If I go on and get 140, 150, and Ussie does the same, then we’re in a different situation. But not to be. Hopefully, in the second innings we can put some real pressure on Pakistan.

“We had the opportunity to get in. The first 20-30 balls is the hardest in these conditions and we’d done a lot of that hard work and both let it slip. If we kick on like I said, it’s a different game. We both take responsibility for that, we let them bowl at two new batters a lot and that’s unfortunate.”

Finch also praised the Pakistan bowlers to bowl well in the last period. Finch is also disappointed with the fashion that he lost the wicket and wished to do not make the similar mistake again.

Finch said, “They bowled beautifully through a 40-minute period there where we couldn’t get away. They were stump-to-stump with very straight fields, in-out fields that you just can’t get away. It was unfortunate to chip one to short mid-on, but hopefully next time either go right over the top or keep it on the carpet.”