6-star Bilal rocks Australia

Test debutant Bilal Asif snatched six wickets to spark a spectacular Australian collapse from 142 for 0 to 202 all out and put Pakistan in firm command of the first Test in Dubai on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old off-spinner finished with 6 for 36 as his efforts, the third best figures for a Pakistani bowler on Test debut, derailed Australia on a pitch which started to assist spinners on the third day. He also became the oldest player in the last 50 years to take five wickets on debut.

Despite being jolted by spinner Jon Holland's two key wickets of Mohammad Hafeez (17) and Azhar Ali (four), Pakistan closed the day on 45 for 3, having an overall lead of 325 with seven second-innings wickets intact to force a win.

SCORES IN BRIEF

PAKISTAN: First innings 482

AUSTRALIA: First innings 202 all out (Khawaja 85, Finch 62, Abbas 4-29, Asif 6-36)

PAKISTAN: Second innings 45 for 3 (Imamul 23 not out, Hafeez 17; Holland 2-9)