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AUS vs PAK: Pakistan reach 117 for 3 at Tea on Day 3 in Sydney, trail by 361

Veteran Younus Khan is holding fort for the visitors.

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Peter Handscomb of Australia runs out Azhar Ali of Pakistan off a delivery by team mate Nathan Lyon during day three of the Third Test match between Australia and Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 5, 2017 in Sydney, Australia
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Australia broke Pakistan's dangerous third-wicket partnership to reduce the tourists to 177 for three, still 361 runs in arrears, at tea on a rain-disrupted third day of the third and final test on Thursday.

Opener Azhar Ali was the batsman to fall for 71, leaving elder statesmen Younus Khan, who is inching towards his 34th test century on 84 not out, and Misbah-ul-Haq, who has made 18, to resume for the extended final session.

Persistent rain sweeping in from the Pacific Ocean meant Pakistan, looking to make further inroads into Australia's first innings 538-8 declared, were unable to resume on 126 for two until four hours after the scheduled start.

Azhar and Younus had put on 120 for the third wicket on Wednesday to stall Australia's march to a 3-0 series sweep and had extended their partnership to 146 when the hosts finally got the breakthrough.

Spinner Nathan Lyon had just come on to huge applause from a crowd largely bedecked in pink for Glenn McGrath's breast cancer charity but it was a communication breakdown between the batsmen that caused the wicket to fall.

Younus's shot beat a diving fielder and he called for a run but Azhar hesitated and was left stranded as Mitchell Starc swooped and hurled the ball to Peter Handscomb, who is standing in for the sick Matt Wade at wicketkeeper.

Azhar was clearly disappointed, though he may take comfort from the fact he surpassed Mohsin Khan's 33-year-old record for a Pakistan batsman in a test series in Australia. Azhar's 395 runs in three tests bettered the 390 his predecessor managed in five.

The 31-year-old righthander has been in outstanding form over the last 12 months, notching up 1,269 runs in 13 tests with one triple and one double century. Wade managed just two overs before leaving the pitch and retiring to the team hotel suffering from nausea and diarrhea.

Australia lead the series 2-0 after victories in Brisbane and Melbourne.

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