This historic, unique match has taken a sharp right-hand turn.

After two days and 24 wickets, Pakistan had as much chance of winning as Ricky Ponting has of getting his name on the honour boards.

The ball nipped and moved, sliding down Lord’s famous slope, and batting was a momentary experience.

Pakistan’s first-innings batting resembled dominoes toppling, a shambles of inexperience and incompetence destroyed by sensible swing bowling.

On the third day the sun rose after lunch and pitch became a bowler’s curse; predictable and perfect for batting.

At 8 for 208 Australia was well placed thanks to another imperturbable Simon Katich innings and some useful batting from Mitchell Johnson and Tim Paine.

Paine found support from Ben Hilfenhaus, who made an effortless maiden Test fifty, and even Doug Bollinger cashed in, adding 52 with Hilfenhaus for the last wicket.

Batting looked easy, and so it continued when the ever-improving Salman Butt added 50 with Imran Farhat, who lost his wicket to Smith aiming a loose pull shot.

Novitiate Azhar Ali settled in and survived a close call for lbw from the last ball of the day to give his team hope of a miraculous fourth-innings performance.

Butt has scored another half-century and if he gets support tomorrow this game could become a cliffhanger.

Yes, it’s more likely that Pakistan will subside, but with fine sunny weather forecast Australia faces a challenge that no-one would have predicted at stumps on day two.

Courtesy by abc.net