On Day 3 at the MCG, Mitchell Marsh, an all-rounder for Australia, came close to achieving his fourth Test century but fell short. His remarkable counterattack rescued Australia from a difficult situation and left Pakistan regretting a critical error. At 4/46, Marsh was on 20 while Australia had slumped to 4/16 due to inspired new ball bowling from Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mir Hamza. When a catch off Aamer Jamal to Abdullah Shafique at first slip was dropped, Marsh was given a second chance. The partnership between Marsh and Steve Smith swelled to 153, shifting the balance of the game. Marsh’s spectacular innings included 13 boundaries and seemed to be leading him to a well-deserved century. However, he was caught at 96 after a spectacular slips catch by Hamza. The day also featured a memorable morning for Pat Cummins. He took two Pakistan wickets and secured his third five-wicket haul at the MCG. The day ended with Australia at 6/187, leaving Pakistan still in the contest with a lead that may be enough due to the pitch conditions. Despite the drama, Day 4 presents an opportunity for Carey to solidify his place in the team after a poor run of form since the Ashes.
