PERTH, Australia, Dec 16, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith dug

in to stretch Australia's lead and take the first Test away from Pakistan
Saturday, as veteran spinner Nathan Lyon moved within one wicket of the 500-
mark.

The hosts reached stumps on day three in Perth at 84-2, building their lead
to 300 after bowling out the visitors on the cusp of tea for 271 in reply to
their first innings 487.

Veteran spinner Lyon was the best of the bowlers with 3-66, but he was made
to wait to reach a milestone that will put him in elite company alongside
just seven other players.

At the close, Khawaja was on 34 and Smith 43 as Pakistan's hopes of a first
Test win in Australia since 1995 faded.

"A 300 lead now and we've got Travis (Head) and Mitch (Marsh) coming in next
and things can tick along pretty quickly with those two," said Australian
pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, who pointed to a declaration on Sunday.

"For me, probably the general idea would be halfway through the day tomorrow
(to declare), could be earlier or later but that will be the rough guide."

The home side had a shaky start with first innings century-maker David Warner
out for a duck.

The 37-year-old, fresh from his defiant 164, mis-timed a pull shot from
Khurram Shahzad and lobbed to Imam-ul-Haq at mid-wicket.

Marnus Labuschagne also surrendered cheaply on a pitch offering uneven
bounce, out for two with Shahzad again the tormentor, tempting a big edge
taken by wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed.

He took a nasty blow to the hand shortly beforehand and was due to have a
scan.

It left Australia tottering at 2-5. But Khawaja and Smith steadied the ship
with an unbeaten 79-run partnership heading into day four.

- Chipping away -

Pakistan resumed on 132-2, but they were no match for Australia's top-class
attack.

"Getting used to the pace and bounce of this wicket was a little bit hard,"
said Pakistan batting coach Adam Hollioake.

"And obviously the Australian bowling attack is arguably one of the best
we've seen in recent history. We're still getting used to the Australian
pitches, but I think we've learned."

Stoic opener Haq began on 38 and nightwatchman Shahzad on seven.

Shahzad, on his debut, lasted just two balls before Pat Cummins took out his
middle stump in the first over.

That brought dangerman Babar Azam to the crease in his 50th Test, tentatively
facing 13 balls before getting off the mark with a cover drive to the ropes
off Cummins.

Biding his time against a seam attack finding bounce and speed on a pitch
baked by the sun, he struck another in Cummins' next over to ensure the
scoreboard ticked over.

At the other end, Haq continued chipping away and brought up a ninth Test 50,
and his first in Australia, off a glacial 161 balls with a single off Lyon.

But the runs were hard to come by and when Marsh was introduced, he
immediately removed Azam for 21, with the former captain edging to
wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

It sparked a mini-collapse, with Haq stumped for 62 when Lyon was brought
back into the attack, charging down the wicket with Carey whipping off the
bails.

Sarfaraz Ahmed lasted just six balls, having no answer to Mitchell Starc's
swinging delivery that sent the stumps flying.

Australia took the new ball after lunch and Hazlewood produced a quality
bouncer that Saud Shakeel tried to fend off but lobbed to Warner at slip.

He departed for 28 and Faheem Ashraf followed for nine, caught low by
Khawaja.

Lyon returned to take his 499th wicket, with another stumping from Carey
accounting for Aamer Jamal, before Head's part-time spin took care of Shaheen
Shah Afridi.