Close Pakistan 163 for 6 trail Australia 444 (Ponting 150, S Waugh 103*, Hayden 89) by 281 runs
Scorecard

When the going gets tough, Steve Waugh gets going. An innings that dripped with courage and willpower put Australia firmly in charge of the third Test at Sharjah, as Pakistan's bowlers were at first held at bay, then seen off in spectacular fashion. By the close, their batsmen had limped to 163 for 6 in reply to a hefty Australian total of 444 all out. With three days remaining, only one result seems feasible. For once, however, few people were looking at the bigger picture.

Waugh, 37 years old and battling for his Test future like never before, scored an unbeaten 103. It was his 28th Test century, but his first innings of note for seven Tests. Waugh had resumed on his overnight 33, and dropped anchor from the start after Pakistan had struck two early blows with the second new ball. He ground his way to lunch on 63 from 139 balls, and in all he faced 191 balls, a innings that oozed determination to prove that he still has what it takes at this level.

With wickets seeping away at the other end, Waugh was only spurred into action by the sight of Glenn McGrath striding to the crease. In one over from Danish Kaneria, he crashed 20 runs: four, four, dot, dot, six, six, to reach his hundred in an explosive manner. The future of his brother Mark may still be in some doubt, but Steve Waugh has confirmed his presence in the line-up for the first Ashes Test at Brisbane next month. The day though had started brightly for Pakistan, with Waqar Younis striking in consecutive deliveries. First, he dismissed Ricky Ponting with one that straightened after pitching and clipped the off stump. Ponting made 150 (308 for 4). Next ball, Damien Martyn was trapped in front of middle by an in-dipper. Suddenly, it didn't look quite so hopeless for Pakistan.

Adam Gilchrist took the attack to the bowlers while Waugh ground them down, cracking 34 in a sixth-wicket stand of 55 which was ended when he edged an attempted cut off Kaneria and Rashid Latif took a routine catch (363 for 6).

Shane Warne was trapped lbw by Kaneria shortly for 11 (403 for 7), Brett Lee was run out for 1 in the same over (404 for 8) and Kaneria struck again three overs later to send Andy Bichel on his way (418 for 9). But McGrath did his bit to help Waugh to his century, and was quickly into the action with the ball as well, dismissing Taufeeq Umar and Younis Khan inside the first 11 overs of Pakistan's reply to move on to 398 Test wickets.

Shane Warne, who has enjoyed his stint in Sharjah, quickly dispensed with Imran Farhat, and had taken 3 for 57 in 17 overs by the time bad light brought about an early close. Only Hasan Raza, back in the side after an absence of four years, showed the necessary application, though he found an able ally in Saqlain Mushtaq. By the close, the pair had added an important 63 for the seventh wicket.

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