Australia has batted through the first two days of the second Test against Pakistan in Karachi, taking their time while building a large first-innings total.
The touring Australians closed play at 8-505 on day two, surprising many by opting against a declaration and the opportunity to bowl to Pakistan late on.
There is an expectation the pitch in Karachi will break up later in the Test, so Australia's plan seems to be to bat only once.
Usman Khawaja picked up where he left off after day one to complete a fine 160, while Alex Carey's 93 was the other innings of note for Australia.
There was an early cameo from nightwatchman Nathan Lyon (38), while Travis Head (23), Cameron Green (28) and Mitchell Starc (28*) chipped in.
Pakistan's bowlers worked hard and kept things tight on a pitch that is not yet offering much for the fielding team.
But Australia was notably hesitant to attack throughout the day, seemingly more intent on wearing Pakistan down than blasting them out.
Lyon took on the bowling of Shaheen Shah Afridi in an exciting period early in the day, scoring quickly and frustrating the bowling until he was bowled by Faheem Ashraf.
Head was next to go, trapped LBW off the bowling of Sajid Khan, before the same bowler produced a beauty to beat a weary Khawaja and hit the top of his off stump.
Green too was undone by a fine piece of spin bowling, his off stump taken out by Nauman Ali.
Starc and Carey combined to defy Pakistan for almost the entirety of the final session, until Carey was bowled by part-timer Babar Azam in pursuit of the last few runs required to complete his ton.
An overnight declaration seems to be a strong possibility, though with two wickets in the sheds Australia may still fancy one last wave of the bat on day three.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
THAT'S STUMPS! Australia 8-505 (Starc 28*, Cummins 0*)
So there you go. Australia has batted through the first two days of this Test match at 2.8 an over, just barely passing 500 for the loss of eight wickets. It hasn't always been the most thrilling cricket, but the Aussies are playing the long game here.
Pakistan's bowling effort was good, never allowing Australia to get away. The deliveries to remove Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green were real highlights on another day dominated by the spinners. But the Aussies are banking on this pitch deteriorating at some point, so want to make sure they only need to bat once out there. Will the plan pay off? Only time will tell.
That's it for me from this series! As I get my head into the pending AFL season, it will be Jon Healy and Simon Smale to take charge of the blog for the rest of this Test and the third in Lahore. Thanks for keeping me company through the last seven days of Test cricket, they sure were something. Make sure you head back to join Jon tomorrow. Until next time, goodbye.
By Dean Bilton
180th over - Babar to bowl it
Righto, let's finish this off.
Starc takes one to get off strike.
Cummins defends a few. Two more to come.
One to come.
Legt alone. Over and stumps.
By Dean Bilton
179th over - Sajid still
Pat Cummins has come to the crease and is at the other end. No point declaring now, stumps would have been taken. We're into the second last over.
Starc plays out to the leg side and takes one.
Cummins defends the rest away. One more over left tonight.
By Dean Bilton
BOWLED HIM! CAREY IS KNOCKED OVER FOR 93!
Sakes. Went for one sweep too many. Was too short to sweep, plus it kept a little low. Off stump cannoned into, Carey's knock ends seven short of a maiden ton. He's done his job here, and deserved the century in the end. What a shame.
By Dean Bilton
178th over - Babar Azam into the attack
Part-timer on. Carey's eyes muse be lighting up. Starc just has to get him on strike.
So far unsuccessful.
Flicked fine by Starc, surely one or three... only two. Spewing.
Starc cuts out to deep point from the penultimate ball of the over. If they don't manage a single from this last ball, Carey should throttle him.
By Dean Bilton
177th over - Sajid bowling
Carey defends. Only needs 10 more.
Reverse swept again, and again Carey gets two.
It's a sweepathon out there, to both sides of the wicket. One more to Carey.
Starc drives down the ground from the last ball of the over and takes the single, which is not cool. But that's the 500 up for Australia at last. Three overs to bowl.
By Dean Bilton
176th over - Nauman, of course
Carey on strike, 17 runs short. How bad does he want it tonight?
Neatly paddled fine by Carey for two. Runs coming easily now he's looking for them.
FOUR! He gets that paddle sweep so fine that it goes between the keeper and leg slip. Fine leg can't get to it, that's a boundary. Carey close now.
Well swept again, just for one. Carey into the 90s in Test cricket for the first time.
Starc sees out the rest of the over. Carey will get the strike back. Four overs to bowl tonight.
By Dean Bilton
175th over - Sajid again
So had they just declared, Australia would have been able to bowl four overs tonight. Surely anything less than that is pointless.
Carey drives out to deep cover and takes two, before reverse sweeping for one more.
Starc sees out the rest of the over. Five more to bowl tonight.
By Dean Bilton
174th over - Nauman bowling it
So with a declaration seemingly not on the horizon, I guess we're all on Carey Ton Watch for the next few overs.
Starc plays one down the ground and takes the single. Carey has the strike for a couple of balls.
Carey sweeps for one.
And that's the over. Six more to bowl tonight.
By Dean Bilton
173rd over - Sajid still
Carey plays to cover for no run.
Now whipped through midwicket for two more.
SIX! Carey gets forward and chips Sajid over midwicket for six. Nice shot by Carey, who is a chance for a maiden Test ton here.
Eight off the over. Seven to bowl tonight.
By Dean Bilton
172nd over - Nauman to Carey again
Carey works it to the on side for one more.
Edged down through the gully by Carey for one more, bringing Starc on strike.
Starc defends the rest. The Australian dressing room looks a very laid back place right now. Eight overs to bowl tonight.
By Dean Bilton
171st over - Sajid to Carey
Carey defends.
Now Carey gets a straight one and flicks it to square leg for two.
DROPPED! FOUR! Badly mis-hit by Carey, and possibly could have been caught by the fielder there. It broke through his hands and went to the rope.
One more to Carey to end the over. Nine more overs to be bowled tonight.
By Dean Bilton
170th over - Nauman Ali now
Spin from both ends.
THROUGH HIM! Well bowled, beat Starc with flight and (lack of) pace.
That's a maiden. Ten more to bowl tonight.
By Dean Bilton
169th over - Sajid Khan back into the attack
Pakistan goes back to spin. Still up to an hour to play so we'll get the 12 overs in, perhaps Pakistan want to whip through a few quickly.
Or not. Taken about five minutes for them to get a couple of helmets out there.
Carey down the ground for one.
Starc finds some room at square leg, just for one more.
Two from that over. 11 more overs to play today.
By Dean Bilton
168th over - Hasan continuing
Carey defends one down to cover.
FOUR! Horrible short ball down the leg side by Hasan. Starc got some glove on that down to fine leg for four.
Five more runs from that over.
By Dean Bilton
167th over - Shaheen steaming in now
Decent short one, but Carey sways out of the way in time.
So with 13 overs left today after this one, it's kinda now or never if Australia is thinking of declaring tonight. They'll lose two for the change over, and if they're going to do it they'd want at least seven or eight overs at least? Maybe? Basically I don't think Cummins is planning to declare tonight.
Carey pulls that short one to fine leg and takes the single.
Unconvincing hook/eyes-closed-paddle from Starc there to another good Shaheen bouncer. Lucky not to get hit, or worse, glove one to the keeper.
Starc sees out the rest of the over. One from it.
By Dean Bilton
166th over - Hasan has another go
Starc on strike.
SWING AND A MISS! Starc fancied a piece of that, trying to send Hasan sailing back over his head. No such luck.
Hasan bowls a decent bouncer, but the third umpire spied a no ball.
No runs off the bat in that over, just the one extra.
By Dean Bilton
165th over - Shaheen Shah Afridi is back
Still hunting for a wicket. The new ball and the tailend could be just the tonic.
A leg bye gets Starc off strike, much to Shaheen's frustration.
FOUR RUNS! Lovely shot from Carey, just leant on that down the ground. It's straight enough to split the fielders and run away for four.
SHOT! Here we go. This is the Alex Carey I've been spruiking for the last five years! A sensational cover drive finds the gap and flies to the fence.
Nine runs from the over, that's good batting.
