Usman Khawaja fell narrowly short of a fairytale century as Australia's top order dug in on day three of the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
Khawaja, playing his first Test in his country of birth, looked destined to reach what would have been an emotional milestone only to be be caught while attempting to reverse sweep on 97.
Australia finished play on day three at 2-271, still 205 behind Pakistan's first-innings total, thanks to the steady batting of the top four.
Khawaja was the most free-flowing on the day, but was well partnered by David Warner (68) and Marnus Labuschagne (69*).
Labuschagne and Steve Smith (24*) are unbeaten at the end of play, which came to an early halt when the umpires adjudged the light was too poor to continue.
Khawaja played shots to all corners of the ground, taking a particular liking to spinners Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali in a profitable period before lunch.
But things slowed down after Sajid bowled Warner with a ball that went straight on, and Khawaja himself slowed once in the 90s.
He tried to reach his century with a reverse sweep off Nauman's bowling, but the delivery bounced on him and took glove, presenting Imam-Ul-Haq a sharp catch at short leg. After a successful review from Pakistan, Khawaja had to go.
From then on, Labuschagne and Smith were relatively untroubled as Pakistan's main objective became keeping the runs down.
Australia still has some way to go to pass Pakistan's first-innings total, and more dogged batting will be required on day four.
But on a pitch that has not deteriorated at all, the prospect of enough wickets being taken by either team to win the match seems unlikely.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our live blog.
Live updates
By Dean Bilton
THAT'S STUMPS! Australia 2-271 (Labuschagne 69*, Smith 24*)
So that's that then, stumps has been called with the light not good enough to continue. Hard to see how we get a result in this one, unfortunately.
A good day of batting for Australia, just a shame Usman Khawaja couldn't find those last three runs to complete what would have been a special and deserved ton. Tomorrow Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith will pick back up, two of the most run-hungry players in the world. Could be a long one for Pakistan.
I'll be back with you tomorrow to see what transpires. Thanks for your company today, I'll see you then.
By Dean Bilton
Still waiting on an update
Not looking good though, is it?
By Dean Bilton
THEY'RE GOING OFF FOR BAD LIGHT
So there is still at least an hour of play allowed today, and if the light improves in that time we may get more play tonight. But there is heavy cloud out there now, and it looks fairly set in so that might be all she wrote for day three.
By Dean Bilton
73rd over - Shaheen Shah Afridi into the attack
Umpires had a chat, but have allowed it.
Labusgane works a straight one to the leg side for one more.
BEAMER! Well, not quite. But a full toss above waist high to Smith is called a no ball. An apology from the bowler and a warning to him.
A single and a no ball from the over. Umpires are convening for another chat.
By Dean Bilton
72nd over - Naseem Shah back into the attack
So clearly the light isn't too bad, the umpires have allowed the seamer back into the attack.
FOUR RUNS! Cut on the up by Marnus and all the way to the rope. That looked very easy, even though the ball was still rising on him.
One more from Labuschagne into the off side will see him keep the strike.
By Dean Bilton
71st over - Nauman over the wicket to Smith
He's playing these with his pads for now.
Nicely driven by Smith down the ground for two, lovely use of the feet.
AND FOUR! Now the Smudge sweep. Runs flowing for the VC.
Good over for Australia.
By Dean Bilton
70th over - Sajid to bowl
Things have really slowed down here, even between the overs Pakistan seem to have hit the breaks.
Sajid is around the wicket bowling at pads too.
FOUR! Nice hands from Labuschagne to whip that off his pad for four behind square.
A single apiece there to end the over. Six from it.
By Dean Bilton
69th over - Nauman continues
Labuschagne on strike.
Labuschagne is hit on the elbow while trying to sweep and it looks like that hurt him a little. He'll be fine.
Nauman is around the wicket, bowling wide of the leg stump. Fairly negative stuff.
Defensive bowling, but effective. That's a maiden.
By Dean Bilton
68th over - Sajid to bowl it
Labuschagne sweeps again and hurries back for two.
One more for Marnus, and Smith gets his head down for the rest of the over. Just easing through the session now.
By Dean Bilton
67th over - Nauman again
It's windy as anything in the middle.
Labuschagne tucks another down to fine leg for two more.
One more for Marnus, who is taking full control of the strike right now. Over bowled.
By Dean Bilton
66th over - Sajid to bowl it
Labuschagne will take the strike.
FOUR! What do you call that? A reverse sweep turned into an orthodox sweep, played standing upright. That's Marnus for you.
FOUR MORE! Another clever lap sweep from Labuschagne, and that's his 50! Been a typical Marnus knock, fun to watch.
Swept again by Labuschagne, just for one. Nine from the over.
By Dean Bilton
65th over - Nauman Ali has switched ends
That makes sense. Meanwhile groundstaff are poised with the covers on the boundary line.
Labuschagne advances and takes one more out to square leg.
IN THE AIR! But safe! Smith tried to hit that for six but didn't get much of it. He did, however, get just enough on it to clear the infield and pick up two.
Over bowled, over survived.
By Dean Bilton
64th over - Iftikhar Ahmed on to bowl
It's getting windy out there, and there might be a wee bit of rain on the horizon too. Not sure why Nauman has come off, but there you go.
A single for Smith to mid off.
Nicely cut by Labuschagne, but excellent fielding by Sajid to save the boundary. Full commitment in the chase and dive.
Smith with one more out to the leg side.
Same goes for Labuschagne, easily done.
Pretty harmless stuff from Iftikhar.
By Dean Bilton
63rd over - Sajid Khan to bowl it
Marnus on strike.
Very straight lines from Sajid, making Marnus play and defend.
A maiden over from Sajid, quickly bowled.
By Dean Bilton
62nd over - Nauman Ali to start up again
So the light is pretty bad out there now, the floodlights doing a lot of heavy lifting. I dare say we'll be seeing a lot of spin in this final session.
SHOT! Beautiful work from Labuschagne, who skips down the wicket and drives through the covers for four. Classic batting.
One more for Labuschagne off the thigh. It really does look like a day-nighter out there now.
Five from the over.
By Dean Bilton
THAT'S TEA! Australia 2-222 (Labuschagne 33*, Smith 12*) trails by 254 runs
Shout out Richie Benaud.
Good session of cricket there. Pakistan fought back by pulling the run rate back a little and picking up the wickets of David Warner and Usman Khawaja. The poles came from poor batting more than excellent bowling, but there was sustained pressure involved in drawing the rash shots.
So for Australia's sake, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne probably need to bat out the third session together. But if Pakistan can break this partnership they'll start to have some hope of rolling through the middle order.
Interesting part of the game coming up.
By Dean Bilton
61st over - Shaheen to take us to tea
Short leg in place, Smith on strike. One last barrage to end the session.
FOUR RUNS! Smith stays inside the line and glides it down to third for another boundary.
Loves a stare down, does Shaheen. All about the scary eye contact, even after he's just flayed one miles down the leg side.
Shaheen comes over the wicket, and Smith stands tall to pull away for a single.
We've just had a silly run out check from a flick from the keeper. Labuschagne was standing there with his bat grounded.
Short stuff continues to Labuschagne.
And he greets it with a full-blooded pull shot away for a single. And that will be tea!
