| Scores | Upcoming | Results |
Melbourne: Australia reached 111 for 3 at stumps on day three, taking their lead to 307 runs against Pakistan in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Shane Watson who was run out for 93 in the first innings, was batting on 64 and will have the chance to score Australia's first elusive century of the summer. Watson and Michael Clarke (21 not out) steadied their side after Australia slumped to 3-40
Simon Katich (2), Ricky Ponting (12) and Michael Hussey (four) fell cheaply after the hosts took a 198-run first innings lead.
Pakistan narrowly escaped a follow-on by some smart batting and clever rotation of the strike by Misbah-ul-Haq (65 not out) and last man Saeed Ajmal frustrated Australia for 52 minutes. They were eventually bowled out for 258.
Doug Bollinger wrecked the tourists in a devastating spell of new-ball in the second session after Pakistan were relatively comfortably placed on 190-5 at lunch. The pacer picked 3-27 from six overs in the spell.
First, nightwatcheman Mohammad Aamer edged one of Bollinger and was caught at slip for 15. Then in his next over he had wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (12) caught behind and, soon after, ended Abdur Rauf's short stay with another nick to first slip.
Peter Siddle chipped in with the wicket of Mohammad Asif, caught at third slip for a duck, but Misbah and Ajmal played for an hour and added a crucial 38-run stand.
Johnson ended the innings when he cleaned up Ajmal for four, which gave him figures of 3-36 for the innings. Bollinger ended with 3-50 and Siddle 2-77.
Brief scores
Australia: 454 for 5 dec and 111 for 3 (Watson 64*, Aamer 2-43)
Pakistan: 258 (Misbah 65*, Umar 51, Johnson 3-36)
Status: Australia lead by 307 runs
