FAISALABAD, Sept 14: Australia ‘A’ were in sight of a thumping victory against Pakistan ‘A’ after taking a massive 458-run lead in their first innings on the penultimate day of the four-day match being played at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Friday.

Resuming the first innings at their overnight score of 438-4, Australia declared 40 minutes before tea time at a mammoth 657-8 off 170.5 overs in reply to a modest 199 by Pakistan ‘A’.

At stumps, Pakistan ‘A’ in their second innings were tottering at 86-3 in 41 overs, needing a further 372 runs to avert an innings defeat.

Australia began the day with Hopes (34) and fellow overnight centurion David Hussey (143) extending the fifth-wicket stand to 162. The home team suffered a setback when it lost two of its key bowlers Abdur Rauf and Najaf Shah to fitness problems.

Also, some wayward bowling by spin twins Atif Maqbool and Mansoor Amjad added to Pakistan’s woes. Atif gave away 187 runs for his three wickets and Mansoor conceded 178 for as many scalps.

Hussey, who looked well set for double hundred, missed out when he was caught by wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmad off Atif for a 278-ball 185. Hussey’s innings included seven fours and two sixes and he stayed at the crease for 444 minutes.

Hopes, however, continued the charge to add a third century stand of the innings. He struck a 236-ball 144 with seven boundaries and two sixes before being clean bowled by Mansoor. Ashley Noffke (39, three fours, three sixes) and Luke Ronchi (22) also used long handle in the end to give an imposing total to their side.

Rauf, who was the top-scorer in the first innings with 73 and had claimed two wickets for 71 in the Aussie innings, could not play take any part in the day’s play due to a groin problem. Najaf did manage to bowl a few overs but looked clearly bothered by back spasm.

In Pakistan ‘A’s second outing, they lost key players Taufiq Umar (29), Khalid Latif (3) and Hasan Raza (3) before Yasir Hameed (36 not out) steadied the innings.

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