As Australia’s openers strode out into the middle, it was evident that they would look for quick runs, and Warner made his intentions loud and clear with a belligerent swat across the line for four, off the very first ball of the innings.
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India play Australia in Pune, Bengaluru, Dharamsala and Ranchi, following the completion of their current series against England in limited overs cricket.
Pakistan still trail by 412 but had Warner managed to throw down the stumps on either, or both, of the occasions he had a lash in the afternoon, with first Azhar and later Younis stranded at the non-striker’s end, their predicament would have been more dire. Younis, only shy of 64 runs to prove that call to be a right one, had a flawless knock except for the running between the wickets where Australia missed out on two run-out chances.
The pace attack failed to do the job and ultimately it was a breakdown in communication between the batsmen that ended the key partnership on 146 runs.
Azhar was mid-pitch when Younis sent him back in the 11th over.
Azhar returned the favour in the 27th over, when Warner went within a whisker of snapping the stubborn stand from mid-off.
Skipper Steve Smith couldn’t see the amusing side as the tourists scampered through for two overthrows.
Josh Hazlewood then pushed the hosts closer towards a 3-0 series win, grabbing two wickets in his second over.
Babar Azam, who fell in the same over, should also have been expected to keep out a ball that was full and straight but not really moving through the air or off the seam, evidence that the time in the field had left the visitors with heavy legs.
By stumps, Handscomb had made his second century, and his Test innings so far make for impressive reading: 54, 1*, 105, 35*, 54, 110.
In contrast to Warner’s dazzling century, 20-year-old Renshaw provided the steady foil, painstakingly taking nearly five hours to bring up his maiden Test century.
As pugnacious as ever, Warner barely hit a false note in his 95-ball innings, hitting the second ball he faced for four and not letting up until he had run the three runs that secured his 18th Test century.
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Younis Khan, who remain the most prolific run scorer for Pakistan in Test cricket, now eyes to achieve the 10,000 runs milestone, having already accumulated 9,789 runs in 114 matches.
