Australia took control of the second Test against Pakistan after Mitchell Marsh scored a counterattacking 96 on Thursday in a valiant rescue effort with a tenacious Steve Smith. Australia had taken a 241-run lead at that point. After dismissing Pakistan for 264 in response to their first innings 318 in Melbourne, the hosts were in serious trouble at 16-4. However, Marsh and Smith worked hard to put together a partnership that might save the game by 153 runs. The hosts were 187-6 at stumps on day three after Smith was dismissed for 50, off 176 balls, in the final over of the day, leaving Alex Carey undefeated on 16.
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